Forage consumption and destruction rates of fourth and fifth nymphal instars and adult male and female ofDichroplus pratensisBruner were measured, and the forage loss caused by a population of this species inhabiting a natural grassland of La Pampa province, Argentina, was estimated. Consumption increased from fourth to fifth instar. From fifth instar to prereproductive adults, the amount eaten increased further in females but did not increase significantly in males. Then it dropped during the reproductive period in both sexes. Consumption rates (mg/individual/day) were 16.31 and 25.78 in fourth and fifth instars, 48.07 and 30.30 in the prereproductive females and males, and 8.33 and 7.27 in the reproductive females and males, respectively. Destruction rates were 3.87 and 12.34 in fourth and fifth instars, 6.73 and 8.53 in the prereproductive females and males, and 3.20 and 3.28 in the reproductive females and males, respectively. A higher proportion of the food removed by the male is not consumed, but is left to accumulate as litter. The forage loss caused by the population ofD. pratensiswas 274.32 kg/ha.