Dichroplus elongatus is usually the dominant species in grasshoppers communities of almost all grassland habitats in Argentina. Relatively humid habitats seem to be favored in relation to more arid ones. In a study conducted on different pastures of La Pampa province, D. elongatus was the most abundant species in alfalfa fields (Medicago sativa) (Sánchez & de Wysiecki, 1993). In western Buenos Aires and eastern La Pampa provinces, D. elongatus was one of the three numerically most important species (63.4% of the communities) and one of the most widely distributed species (97% in 12 sites between 1994-99) (Cigliano et al., 2000). In 27 sites in Benito Juarez county, Buenos Aires province, Torrusio et al. (2002) found that D. elongatus was the most abundant species and was associated with sown pastures plants (grasses and dicots) and introduced forbs. Cigliano et al. (2002), also in Benito Juarez, registered, during an outbreak year, that D. elongatus was the most prevalent species (66% of the grasshoppers communities). During another outbreak that occurred in the same area a few years earlier, Cigliano et al.(1995) determined that D. elongatus was also the dominant species (78-83% of the community)
Highly polyphagous: gramineous and other plants in natural pastures, forage crops, fruits trees in general, grape vines, cultivated and wild leguminous plants, particularly alfalfa, cereals, carrot, beans, melon, olive(specially nurseries), potato, varied vegetables.