Orthoptera Biodiversity for Environmental Assessment and Agroecological Advancement

Grasshoppers and their allies (Orthoptera) are numerous and diverse insects globally, while being significant components of biodiversity and nutrient cycling. They are variously responsive to environmental change but are paradoxical, as some species are major pests while others are threatened or even extinct. Most orthopteran species are somewhere in between, with their assemblage composition shifting in response to changing conditions and according to the response traits of the constituent species. With global concern over the impact of conventional agriculture on biodiversity, there is currently a strong transition to agroecology. The agroecological approach is two-fold: to set aside land and to better manage the overall landscape. Both approaches aim to boost the numbers and diversity of most orthopterans, while reducing the impact of the pest species using biologically based pesticides instead of chemical pesticides as part of an integrated pest management program. Set-aside land is present at various spatial scales for conservation action, involving a diversity of practical approaches. Management depends on understanding orthopteran responses to change, and harnessing the positive responses using, for example, improved grazing, fire management, and vegetation diversification for maximizing habitat heterogeneity. These initiatives also recognize the additional interactive effect of climate change and extreme weather events. Importantly, improvement of orthopteran abundance and diversity is an integral component of overall biodiversity conservation. New technologies, both aerial and genomic, are advancing the field of orthopteran biology and ecology greatly. We review advances being made in the field that hold the most promise and suggest ways forward based on three themes: appreciating orthopteran value, recognizing the adverse drivers of orthopteran abundance and diversity, and better design and management of agroecosystems.