334 
Psyche 
[Vol. 92 
Table 1 . Climatological information of certain localities in which Potua sabulosa 
Hancock has been reported by us. 
Locality 
Lat./Long. 
Altitude 
(Height 
from 
M.S.L. 
in mts) 
Average 
Rainfall 
mm/anum. 
Average 
Max. and 
Min. Temp. 
Average 
Humidity 
M’shwar 
Lat. 1 7° 56'N 
Long. 73°40'E 
1573 
6226 
Max. 24.1°C 
Min. 13.6°C 
70% 
Pratapgad 
Lat. 18°0'N 
Long. 74° 22'E 
1185 
7250 
Max. 25° C 
Min. 16°C 
68% 
Panchgani 
Lat. 17°55'N 
Long. 73°49'E 
1464 
1865 
Max. 35.6° C 
Min. 16.1°C 
70% 
Sinhagad 
Lat. 1 8° 22'N 
Long. 73°45'E 
1436 
1100 
Max. 33° C 
Min. 17°C 
70% 
Potua. Underneath the pronotum there is a pair of triangular, thick 
and scaly elytra while hind wings are very reduced. Hancock (1915) 
has mentioned that elytra are minute and elongate and hind wings 
are wanting. However, after careful observations we have found 
that the wings, even though thickened like elytra and vestigial, are 
unfailingly present (Fig. 3). The measurements of elytra and these 
wings in male and female Potua are given in Table 2. Therefore, this 
insect comes under the category of ‘brachypterous form’, although 
certain other genera belonging to the subfamily Cladonotinae are 
apterous in nature. Meopterism of this pigmy locust favourably 
indicates its distribution to relatively high altitudes. Potua usually 
crawls when disturbed and rarely jumps. It can jump to a distance of 
about 25 to 35 cm. 
The insects feed on humus along with bryophytes like moss 
( Funaria sps.), algae, fungi and lichens present in the vicinity of the 
habitat. From laboratory observations there appears to be a strong 
preference for humus as well as for smaller and tender plants such as 
moss. P. sabulosa appears to be unusually hardy and can survive 
periods of long starvation both in natural habitat as well as under 
laboratory conditions. For example, our laboratory observations 
indicate that the adults can survive total starvation for a period of 
more than two months. However, the nymphs lose their vitality very 
rapidly, when kept starved in the cages. 
Potua, like other tetrigids, shows well defined sexual dimorphism. 
Copulating pairs can be observed immediately after the initial mon- 
