Red List of South African Species

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

Rationale

The Humped Agile Grasshopper (Rhachitopis crassus) has a wide distribution in South Africa, Lesotho and the south of Namibia. It is affiliated with patches of bare ground in short grassy habitats. The species is quite common and unlikely to meet the thresholds of a Red List criterion. Therefore, it is assessed as Least Concern.

Distribution

This species is widespread in large parts of South Africa, Lesotho and southern Namibia. It may also occur in southwestern Botswana. Its extent of occurrence (EOO) is ca 860,000 km².

Population trend

Trend

The species has quite high abundances (Gebeyehu and Samways 2003) and is very common (Brown 1962). Information on the population trend is not available. It is not a good flier (Brown 1962), suggesting that it might be sensitive to habitat fragmentation.

Threats

The main threat to this species is conversion of its habitat into farmland.

Uses and trade

The species is not utilized.

Conservation

No specific conservation action is in place for this species or needed. It occurs in protected areas. 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{116114640,
 author = {Gebeyehu, S., and Samways, M.},
 journal = {Biodiversity and Conservation},
 pages = {717–734},
 title = {Conservation refugium value of a large mesa for grasshoppers in South Africa},
 volume = {15.0},
 year = {2006}
}
,@article{116115715,
 author = {Brown, H.D.},
 journal = {Journal of the Entomological Society of South Africa},
 pages = {198--229},
 title = {New and interesting grasshoppers from southern Africa - 3 (Orthoptera: Acridoidea)},
 volume = {25.0},
 year = {1962}
}
,@article{116116103,
 author = {Gebeyehu, S., and Samways, M.},
 journal = {Biodiversity and Conservation},
 pages = {283–304},
 title = {Grasshopper assemblage response to a restored national park (Mountain Zebra National Park, South Africa)},
 volume = {11.0},
 year = {2002}
}
,@article{116116103,
 author = {Gebeyehu, S., and Samways, M.},
 journal = {Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment},
 pages = {613–622},
 title = {Responses of grasshopper assemblages to long-term grazing management in a semi-arid African savanna},
 volume = {95.0},
 year = {2003}
}
,]
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