Bullacris unicolor is a widespread species that is commonly found along the west coast of South Africa, almost as far north as Namibia, but also extends along the southern coast of South Africa into the Eastern Cape as far as Port Alfred. It is frequently encountered in the field. It is assessed as Least Concern (LC) based on its very wide distribution and observed abundance.
Distribution
Bullacris unicolor is one of the most commonly encountered species of bladder grasshopper. It has a fairly wide geographic distribution across the Northern Cape, Western Cape, and Eastern Cape Provinces of South Africa, and also occurs on Robben Island. Although the species is generally restricted to coastal regions, there is a single recorded locality from Augrabies in the Northern Cape. This locality falls outside of the core distribution of the species, being much further inland, and is therefore considered to be somewhat uncertain. The extent of occurrence (EOO) of the species is ca 440,000 km².
Bullacris unicolor emerges seasonally, and has been observed from July to December. The population size and trend are unknown, although the species is fairly abundant.
Threats
Potential threats to Bullacris unicolor include climate change (less rainfall resulting in a loss of suitable habitat) and land use change as a result of urban development and agriculture.
Uses and trade
This species is not utilised.
Conservation
There are no conservation actions for the species, but it occurs in protected areas. Geographic variation has been observed in this species, with different sub-populations differing significantly in body size and in the structure of the male advertisement call. Molecular analyses also indicate genetic differentiation of sub-populations (Sathyan et al. 2017). Preliminary data have suggested a close genetic relationship between B. unicolor and B. intermedia (Gordon 2017), and they may also share some morphological similarities (Dirsh 1965). Research regarding the taxonomy, ecology, threats and population trends is needed.
[@electronic{2573,
address = {www.iucnredlist.org},
author = {IUCN},
title = {The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2018-1},
year = {2018}
}
,@electronic{15431178,
address = { http://Orthoptera.SpeciesFile.org},
author = {Eades, D.C., Otte, D., Cigliano, M.M. and Braun, H.},
title = {Orthoptera Species File. Version 5.0/5.0},
year = {2014}
}
,@article{100946558,
author = {Dirsh, V.M.},
journal = {Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomology },
pages = {325--396},
title = {Revision of the family Pneumoridae (Orthoptera: Acridoidea)},
volume = {15.0},
year = {1965}
}
,@phdthesis{100946558,
author = {Gordon, M.L.},
school = {University of the Western Cape},
title = {An acoustic, genetic and morphological review of the genus Bullacris (Orthoptera; Pneumoridae)},
year = {2017}
}
,@article{100946698,
author = {Sathyan, R., Engelbrecht, A. and Couldridge, V.C.K. },
journal = {Ethology, Ecology & Evolution },
number = {6},
pages = {552--573},
title = {Morphological, acoustic and genetic divergence in the bladder grasshopper <i>Bullacris unicolor</i>},
volume = {29.0},
year = {2017}
}
,@article{100946698,
author = {Dirsh, V.M.},
journal = {Eos : Revista Española de Entomología },
number = {1-2},
pages = {177--184},
title = {Three new genera and species of the family Pneumoridae},
volume = {39.0},
year = {1963}
}
,@phdthesis{100946698,
author = {Donelson, N.C.},
school = {Bowling Green State University},
title = {Inter- and intraspecific variation in the superfamily Pneumoroidea},
year = {2007}
}
,]
