Studies on the survey and natural history of tetrigids from Maharashtra (Tetrigidae: Orthoptera)

The paper gives findings of the survey work on tetrigids conducted at twenty localities in 5 districts, ranging in altitude from mean sea level to 1500 meters in Western Maharashtra. In all 10 species tetrigids are reported from these localities, with some as first records. Of these, 9 stand taxonomically identified, while steps have been taken to determine that of the tenth one. Of the collected ones, 5 belong to subfamily- Scelimeninae, 1 to Cladonotinae and 4 to subfamily Tetriginae. The supporting information is given either in a tabular form or as illustrations. The relevant ecological and behavioral information given, can enable on one hand a naturalist, to include the study of this interesting group of small orthopterans, help conserve threatened taxa and on the other, make researchers to undertake further in- depth studies on this palaeobiologically ancient and phyletically primitive group of insects associated and feeding mostly on primitive plants, i.e. the lower cryptogams.