Red List of South African Species

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Least Concern (LC)
Assessors: Axel Hochkirch Corinna Bazelet Anja Danielczak Daniela Matenaar
Reviewers: Mark Bushell

Rationale

The Red-legged Agile Grasshopper is widespread in South Africa and Lesotho with an extent of occurrence (EOO) of ca 780,000 km². The species is assumed to show extreme fluctuations in the number of mature individuals, but it is generally common and not threatened. Therefore, it is assessed as Least Concern.

Distribution

This species is widely distributed in the west and central region of South Africa and Lesotho. A record from the Kgalagadi National Park at the border to Botswana is far away from other records and here not considered. Its extent of occurrence (EOO) is ca 780,000 km².

Population trend

Trend

According to Reynecke (1941) this species can sometimes become very common and may even reach pest status. Matenaar et al. (2015) found only single specimens in nature reserves of the Cape Floristic region. This suggests that the population shows extreme fluctuations in the number of mature individuals. Recent data on the population trend is lacking.

Threats

Threats to this species have not been documented. It is unlikely to be negatively affected by grazing, as it prefers patches of bare ground. Conversion of its habitat into farmland might be a local threat.

Uses and trade

The species is not utilised.

Conservation

No specific conservation action is in place for this species, but it occurs in several protected areas, including Table Mountain National Park, De Hoop Nature Reserve and Grootwinterhoek Wilderness Area. Research into its ecology, threats and population trend is required.

References 

[@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{116114578,
 author = {Matenaar, D., Bazelet, C., and Hochkirch, A.},
 journal = {Biological Conservation},
 pages = {192--199 },
 title = {Simple tools for the evaluation of protected areas for the conservation of grasshoppers},
 volume = {192.0},
 year = {2015}
}
,@article{116114699,
 author = {Reynecke, A.L.},
 journal = {Journal of the Entomological Society of South Africa},
 pages = {197--205},
 title = {Notes on some common Karroo grasshoppers},
 volume = {4.0},
 year = {1941}
}
,]
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