The life cycle and development of Zonocerus variegatus (variegated grasshopper) from southern Benin was studied at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Benin Station, from March 1992 to August 1994. Hoppers of the 1st to the 5th stage were collected from uncultivated fields in the Atlantic Province and placed in cages and their development evaluated by counting the number of insects in each stage every two days until the adult stage. Mating and the number of egg pods were also recorded. The study showed that Z. variegatus has only one generation in southern Benin, running from September/October to July/August. Hatching occurs between September/ October and February/March. Zonocerus variegatus females can oviposit up to five times and the interval between ovipositions varies from 14 to 32 days. The variegated grasshopper has an egg diapause and egg hatching is not synchronised. These observations explain the almost perennial presence of the variegated grasshopper in southern Benin.
