Variation, plasticity and possible epigenetic influences in species belonging to the tribe Gomphocerini (Orthoptera; Gomphocerinae): A review

Environmental conditions can cause variation in morphology, behavior, and possibly epigenetic in the numerous species of the Gomphocerinae, especially in mountain habitats. Plasticity and changes in morphology in many of the species in this subfamily is caused by character segregation through the female choice of copulation that has produced various clines, sub-species or species groups. The variation and plasticity, as a result of environmental stress, besides morphology, affect physiology and epigenetics of many insect species. Environmental stress and female assortative mating might be accompanied by hybridization in populations, resulting in character divergence and speciation after a long period of time. Contemporary evolution and/or epigenetic inheritance may be a reason for their variation in acoustic and morphology of Gomphocerinae and the main factor in the present situation of difficulty in their classification. We review possible effects of environmental stress on plasticity, hybridization, and speciation by the appearance of endemic species. About half of the insect pest species have reduced their impacts as pests under global warming. The present insect pest situation in Iran is discussed.