UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY

Orthopteran insects, including grasshoppers, crickets, and katydids, are important components of terrestrial ecosystems and agricultural landscapes, where they contribute to nutrient cycling, herbivory, food-web dynamics, and ecosystem functioning. Owing to their sensitivity to habitat characteristics and environmental changes, they are widely regarded as useful indicators of ecological conditions. Despite their ecological significance, information on Orthoptera inhabiting agricultural habitats of the Terai region of Uttarakhand remains limited. The present study was undertaken to document the diversity, abundance, and community structure of Orthoptera in selected agricultural and semi-natural habitats of Bazpur, Udham Singh Nagar district, Uttarakhand, India. Field surveys were conducted from July to September 2025 at six sampling sites representing different habitat conditions, including mixed-vegetation field margins, agricultural fields, and grass-dominated habitats. Orthopteran species were recorded through direct observations and photographic documentation. Diversity and community structure were assessed using abundance (N), species richness (S), Shannon diversity index (H′), Simpson diversity index (1−D), and Pielou’s evenness index (J′). Habitat-wise comparisons were performed to evaluate variations in species composition and diversity across the study area. A total of 127 individuals belonging to 18 taxa and four families were recorded during the study period. Acrididae was the dominant family, contributing the highest species richness and abundance, followed by other orthopteran groups represented in the surveyed habitats. Diversity indices revealed noticeable variation among sites. Site A1, characterised by heterogeneous vegetation and semi-natural habitat features, exhibited the highest species richness and diversity, whereas Site C2 recorded the lowest richness and diversity values. Patterns of abundance and species distribution indicated that habitat heterogeneity and vegetation complexity played an important role in shaping orthopteran assemblages. Sites associated with greater structural diversity supported comparatively richer and more evenly distributed communities than relatively simplified habitats. The present study provides baseline information on Orthoptera associated with agricultural landscapes of the Uttarakhand Terai and contributes to the growing knowledge of insect biodiversity in the region. The findings highlight the importance of maintaining habitat heterogeneity and semi-natural vegetation within agroecosystems for the conservation of orthopteran diversity. The study also establishes a reference dataset for future biodiversity assessments, ecological monitoring, and conservation-oriented investigations in the agricultural landscapes of northern India.