Oxya

Serville, 1831

Rice Grasshoppers

Species Guides

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Oxya is a of grasshoppers in the Acrididae, distributed across Africa and Asia. Several , including O. chinensis and O. japonica, are significant agricultural pests of rice and other cereal crops, earning the group the "rice grasshoppers." The genus is taxonomically placed in the Oxyinae and tribe Oxyini. Some species have been introduced to Pacific islands and Australia.

Oxya by (c) jamie bee, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by jamie bee. Used under a CC-BY license.Oxya by (c) Takaaki Hattori, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Takaaki Hattori. Used under a CC-BY license.Oxya by (c) jamie bee, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by jamie bee. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Oxya: /ˈɒksiə/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Habitat

in this are primarily associated with grasslands, agricultural fields, and wetland rice paddies. They thrive in humid, vegetated environments where grasses and cereal crops dominate.

Distribution

Africa (widespread across sub-Saharan regions including West, Central, East, and Southern Africa); Asia (extensive range including China, India, Southeast Asia, Japan, Taiwan, Philippines, Indonesia, and the Indian subcontinent). Introduced occur in Australia, Hawaii, and various Pacific islands including Caroline Islands, New Hebrides, Solomon Islands, and Papua New Guinea.

Diet

Herbivorous. Documented plants include rice, maize, sugar cane, and various grasses. Some have been recorded feeding on coconut, cacao, coffee, and cotton.

Host Associations

  • Oryza sativa - pestprimary agricultural
  • Zea mays - pestrecorded plant
  • Saccharum officinarum - pestrecorded plant
  • various Poaceae - food plantwild grass

Ecological Role

Herbivore and agricultural pest. can cause significant crop damage in rice-growing regions. Serves as prey for various including birds, reptiles, and other arthropods.

Human Relevance

Major pest of rice agriculture in Asia and Africa. Oxya chinensis has been targeted with both chemical and in laboratory and field studies. The "rice grasshoppers" reflects their economic importance.

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Sources and further reading