20th Annual Student Research Conference
Science
Katydid (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) Plant Preference in Prairies
Heidi M. Voltz* and Philip D. Gosu
Dr. Jonathan C. Gering, Faculty Mentor
The purpose of this study was to better understand host plant use by katydids in prairie habitats. Data were collected at night from six prairie sites in Adair and Macon Cos., MO. At each site, we sampled 12-20 plants categorized by location in the prairie (edge, interior) and species (Andropogon gerardii, Sorghastrum nutans). We searched each of the 112 plants for katydids and recorded the genus, sex, and location on the plant (stem, seed) for each of the katydids we encountered. We recorded a total of 34 adult katydids representing three genera (Conocephalus, Orchelimum, and Neoconocephalus).There were more males (22) than females (16), but two-sample t-tests revealed no significant differences in mean katydid abundance between location on the plant (t= -1.149, P= 0.277), plant species (t= 0.119, P= 0.908), or plant location (t= 0.849, P= 0.416). However, there was a significant difference in the mean number of katydids among sites.
Keywords: katydid, prairie habitat, plant use
Topic(s):Biology
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: 7-2
Location: OP Lobby
Time: 4:15 pm