Body-color polymorphism on Atractomorpha crenulata

Date : October 30, 2011
Camera : Sony Ericsson k800i
Location : Backyard – Jonggol, Bogor, West Java, Indonesia

Two Atractomorpha crenulata grasshoppers with different colors were mating.

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Polymorphism in biology occurs when two or more clearly different phenotypes exist in the same population of a species — in other words, the occurrence of more than one form or morph. In order to be classified as such, morphs must occupy the same habitat at the same time and belong to a panmictic population (one with random mating).

"Temperature was the only factor that significantly affected body color: the frequency of brown morphs tended to be higher at higher temperatures."

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References:

• Wikipedia, Polymorphism (biology) (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymorphism_%28biology%29)
• Wiley Online Library, Entomological Science Volume 11, Issue 1, March 2008, Effects of temperature on body color change in the grasshopper Atractomorpha lata (Orthoptera: Pyrgomorphidae) with reference to sex differences in color morph frequencies (onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1479-8298.2007.00256.x/abstract)