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Psyche 
[Vol. 92 
the small size and the ability to blend with the surrounding. How- 
ever, being sluggish these are easy to catch, once detected. After 
collection, the specimens were transferred to insect cages containing 
their natural food. These cages were then brought to the research 
centre for further investigations. The insects were maintained in the 
cages by simulating the natural conditions to the extent possible. 
Field observations were periodically made to gather the data in 
relation to habitat, seasonal variations in the population size and of 
bioecological behaviour. 
Measurements of body parts of male and female Potua were 
made with calibrated eye-piece gratings, of a zoom type trinocular 
dissecting microscope. 
Observations and Discussion 
P. sabulosa Hancock is smallest of the tetrigids studied in our 
laboratory. It can be aptly called the ‘Pigmy locust’ (Fig. 1). Table 1 
summaries the information about the localities where it has been 
observed, so far. These localities generally have lush forests in 
common, as well as year around humid and relatively cool climate. 
Furthermore, it may be noted here that in the surveys undertaken 
of certain altitudinally near-similar localities in Western Ghats such 
as Lonavala-Khandala (Dist. Pune, Alt. 733 & 630 mts respectively) 
Matheran (Dist. Raigad, Alt. 833 mts) and Trimbak (Dist. Nasik, 
Alt. 950 mts) the authors could not, so far, come across P. sabulosa. 
This presumably means that besides altitude certain other ecological 
conditions could be playing some role in the distribution of this 
insect. 
Typically, the insect is found on the walls of buildings, large stems 
of plants, in the crevices of rocks, fencings and similar other places 
which are covered with bryophytes, especially the moss. Its sitting 
posture is typically like that of other locusts. The body colour is 
usually dull brown to gray, very similar to the soil and rocks of the 
Deccan plateau of Western Ghats. Insects are usually very well 
camouflaged with their habitat. The pronotum is high, arched, 
slightly roof-like, wrinkled and with tubercles. It is as long as the 
abdomen in both the sexes (Fig. 2). Hind femora are large, stout, 
marginally serrated and tuberculate on the outer side. Table 2 gives 
the measurements of various body parts of the male and female 
