Dichroplus pratensis was recorded as dominant species in grasslands and different natural and implanted pastures in northeastern La Pampa province (Sanchez & de Wysiecki 1993; de Wysiecki et al. 2000). It also was one of the three dominant species, along with Dichroplus elongatus and Staurorhectus longicornis, in samples of 12 sites from western Buenos Aires and Eastern La Pampa provinces during 1994-99. Dichroplus pratensis was one of the most widely distributed grasshoppers, being present in 90% of the sites (Cigliano et al. 2000). In Benito Juarez county, southeastern Buenos Aires province, D. pratensis was one of the 5 most abundant species (52% of the 27 sites) and was highly associated with native grasslands (Torrusio et al. 2002; de Wysiecki et al. 2004). Under field conditions, the estimated consumption for the IV and V nymphal instars was 16.31 mg/ind/day and 25.78 mg/ind/day, respectively. The consumption of pre-reproductive females and males was 48.07 and 30.30 mg/ind/day, respectively, and 8.33 and 7.27 mg/ind/day for females and males in reproductive stage (Sanchez & de Wysiecki 1990). It was estimated that a population of D. pratensis that reached a maximum density of 22.19 ind/m2 during the 1981-82 season in a natural grassland of La Pampa caused a loss of forage of 274.32 Kg/ha (Sanchez & de Wysiecki 1990).

Polyphagous: cereals, alfalfa, corn, natural pastures and prairie vegetation in general, vegetable crops.