Abstract: In the present paper, 11 morphometric characters of Oxya chinensis from Chang An and Han Zhong areas of Shaanxi Province were studied by means of PCA (Principal Component Analysis) and DA (Discriminate Analysis) . On the plane constructed by the 1st and 2nd axis of PCA, the individuals from the two locations are separated clearly into two groups along the 1st axis. In addition, the two populations aredifferent sighificantly in many biological aspects: the number of eggs contained in an egg-capsule, the size of eggs, the oxygen consumption rate during embryonic development, the threshold and effective accumulative temperatures of egg development. Taking the geographical barrier (the Qingling Mountain) into consideration, we suggest that the rice grasshopper has evolved into two separate geographic races in Chang An and Hang Zhong areas. Because it is difficult to identify the two populations by using the traditional morphometric methods, two discriminate functions are established for discriminating the races of female and male individuals respectively: V (female)=-11.67+195.44H+1.91E/F+8. 66MX+22.80F/C+O. 34P-3. SOMZ - 102.76H/C -42.51F. V (male) =-17.06+30.18MZ+4.31F. Here is V (female or male)〈0, the individual belongs to Chang An population, otherwise, it is subordinate to Han Zhong race.

Key words: Oxya chinensis, population comparision, multivariable analysis