Orthoptera
Encyclopedia
Orthoptera is an order of insect
s with paurometabolous or incomplete metamorphosis, including the grasshopper
s, cricket
s and locust
s.
Many insects in this order produce sound
(known as a "stridulation
") by rubbing their wings against each other or their legs, the wings or legs containing rows of corrugated bumps. The tympanum or ear
is located in the front tibia in crickets, mole crickets, and katydids, and on the first abdominal segment in the grasshopper
s and locust
s. These organisms use vibrations to locate other individuals.
Grasshoppers are able to fold their wing
s, placing them in the group Neoptera
.
body, with hind legs elongated for jump
ing. They have mandibulate
mouthparts and large compound eyes, and may or may not have ocelli, depending on the species. The antennae
have multiple joints, and are of variable length.
The first and third segments of the thorax
are enlarged, while the second segment is much shorter. They have two pairs of wings
, which are held overlapping the abdomen
at rest. The forewings, or tegmina, are narrower than the hindwings and hardened at the base, while the hind wing is membranous, with straight veins and numerous cross-veins. At rest, the hindwings are held folded fan-like under the forewings. The final two to three segments of the abdomen are reduced, and have single-segmented cerci
.
in the ground or on vegetation. The eggs hatch and the young nymphs
resemble adults but lack wings and at this stage are often called hoppers. They may often also have a radically different coloration from the adults. Through successive moults
the nymphs develop wings until their final moult into a mature adult with fully developed wings.
The number of moults varies between species; growth is also very variable and may take a few weeks to some months depending on food availability and weather conditions.
. The list of dietary laws in the book of Leviticus forbids all flying insects that walk, but makes an exception for the locust
. The Torah
states the only kosher flying insects with four walking legs have knees that extend above their feet so that they hop. This suggests that non-jumping orthoptera such as mole crickets are not kosher.
appear to be monophyletic and Rhaphidophoridae
is a sister group of Tettigoniidae
. Pyrgomorphidae
are the most basal group of Caelifera. Myrmecophilidae appear to form a clade with Gryllotalpidae instead of with Gryllidae. Additional work may be needed to confirm this.
Among the four subfamilies of Tettigoniidae
the relationships are (Phaneropterinae
+ (Conocephalinae + (Bradyporinae + Tettigoniinae
))); among six acridid subfamilies the relationships are (Oedipodinae + (Acridinae + (Gomphocerinae
+ (Oxyinae + (Calliptaminae
+ Cyrtacanthacridinae))))).
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s with paurometabolous or incomplete metamorphosis, including the grasshopper
Grasshopper
The grasshopper is an insect of the suborder Caelifera in the order Orthoptera. To distinguish it from bush crickets or katydids, it is sometimes referred to as the short-horned grasshopper...
s, cricket
Cricket (insect)
Crickets, family Gryllidae , are insects somewhat related to grasshoppers, and more closely related to katydids or bush crickets . They have somewhat flattened bodies and long antennae. There are about 900 species of crickets...
s and locust
Locust
Locusts are the swarming phase of short-horned grasshoppers of the family Acrididae. These are species that can breed rapidly under suitable conditions and subsequently become gregarious and migratory...
s.
Many insects in this order produce sound
Sound
Sound is a mechanical wave that is an oscillation of pressure transmitted through a solid, liquid, or gas, composed of frequencies within the range of hearing and of a level sufficiently strong to be heard, or the sensation stimulated in organs of hearing by such vibrations.-Propagation of...
(known as a "stridulation
Stridulation
Stridulation is the act of producing sound by rubbing together certain body parts. This behavior is mostly associated with insects, but other animals are known to do this as well, such as a number of species of fishes, snakes and spiders...
") by rubbing their wings against each other or their legs, the wings or legs containing rows of corrugated bumps. The tympanum or ear
Ear
The ear is the organ that detects sound. It not only receives sound, but also aids in balance and body position. The ear is part of the auditory system....
is located in the front tibia in crickets, mole crickets, and katydids, and on the first abdominal segment in the grasshopper
Grasshopper
The grasshopper is an insect of the suborder Caelifera in the order Orthoptera. To distinguish it from bush crickets or katydids, it is sometimes referred to as the short-horned grasshopper...
s and locust
Locust
Locusts are the swarming phase of short-horned grasshoppers of the family Acrididae. These are species that can breed rapidly under suitable conditions and subsequently become gregarious and migratory...
s. These organisms use vibrations to locate other individuals.
Grasshoppers are able to fold their wing
Wing
A wing is an appendage with a surface that produces lift for flight or propulsion through the atmosphere, or through another gaseous or liquid fluid...
s, placing them in the group Neoptera
Neoptera
Neoptera is a classification group that includes almost all the winged insects, specifically those that can flex their wings over their abdomens...
.
Etymology
The name is derived from the Greek ortho meaning straight and ptera meaning winged.Characteristics
Orthopterans have a generally cylindricalCylinder (geometry)
A cylinder is one of the most basic curvilinear geometric shapes, the surface formed by the points at a fixed distance from a given line segment, the axis of the cylinder. The solid enclosed by this surface and by two planes perpendicular to the axis is also called a cylinder...
body, with hind legs elongated for jump
Jump
Jump may refer to:* Jumping, to propel oneself rapidly upward such that momentum causes the body to become airborne* To get attacked by a group of people e.g...
ing. They have mandibulate
Mandible (arthropod)
thumb|250px|The mandibles of a [[Bull ant]]The mandible of an arthropod is either of a pair of mouthparts used for biting, cutting and holding food. Mandibles are often simply referred to as jaws. Mandibles are present in the extant subphyla Myriapoda , Crustacea and Hexapoda...
mouthparts and large compound eyes, and may or may not have ocelli, depending on the species. The antennae
Antenna (biology)
Antennae in biology have historically been paired appendages used for sensing in arthropods. More recently, the term has also been applied to cilium structures present in most cell types of eukaryotes....
have multiple joints, and are of variable length.
The first and third segments of the thorax
Thorax (insect anatomy)
The thorax is the mid section of the insect body. It holds the head, legs, wings and abdomen. It is also called mesosoma in other arthropods....
are enlarged, while the second segment is much shorter. They have two pairs of wings
Insect wing
Insects are the only group of invertebrates known to have evolved flight. Insects possess some remarkable flight characteristics and abilities, still far superior to attempts by humans to replicate their capabilities. Even our understanding of the aerodynamics of flexible, flapping wings and how...
, which are held overlapping the abdomen
Abdomen
In vertebrates such as mammals the abdomen constitutes the part of the body between the thorax and pelvis. The region enclosed by the abdomen is termed the abdominal cavity...
at rest. The forewings, or tegmina, are narrower than the hindwings and hardened at the base, while the hind wing is membranous, with straight veins and numerous cross-veins. At rest, the hindwings are held folded fan-like under the forewings. The final two to three segments of the abdomen are reduced, and have single-segmented cerci
Cercus
Cerci are paired appendages on the rear-most segments of many arthropods, including insects and arachnids but not crustaceans. Cerci often serve as sensory organs, but they may also be used as weapons or copulation aids, or they may simply be vestigial structures.Typical cerci may appear to be...
.
Life cycle
Orthopteroid species have a paurometabolous life cycle or incomplete metamorphosis. The use of sound is generally crucial in courtship, and most species have distinct songs. Most grasshoppers lay their eggsEgg (biology)
An egg is an organic vessel in which an embryo first begins to develop. In most birds, reptiles, insects, molluscs, fish, and monotremes, an egg is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum, which is expelled from the body and permitted to develop outside the body until the developing...
in the ground or on vegetation. The eggs hatch and the young nymphs
Nymph (biology)
In biology, a nymph is the immature form of some invertebrates, particularly insects, which undergoes gradual metamorphosis before reaching its adult stage. Unlike a typical larva, a nymph's overall form already resembles that of the adult. In addition, while a nymph moults it never enters a...
resemble adults but lack wings and at this stage are often called hoppers. They may often also have a radically different coloration from the adults. Through successive moults
Ecdysis
Ecdysis is the moulting of the cuticula in many invertebrates. This process of moulting is the defining feature of the clade Ecdysozoa, comprising the arthropods, nematodes, velvet worms, horsehair worms, rotifers, tardigrades and Cephalorhyncha...
the nymphs develop wings until their final moult into a mature adult with fully developed wings.
The number of moults varies between species; growth is also very variable and may take a few weeks to some months depending on food availability and weather conditions.
Orthoptera as food
Orthopterans are the only insects considered kosher in JudaismJudaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
. The list of dietary laws in the book of Leviticus forbids all flying insects that walk, but makes an exception for the locust
Locust
Locusts are the swarming phase of short-horned grasshoppers of the family Acrididae. These are species that can breed rapidly under suitable conditions and subsequently become gregarious and migratory...
. The Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
states the only kosher flying insects with four walking legs have knees that extend above their feet so that they hop. This suggests that non-jumping orthoptera such as mole crickets are not kosher.
Phylogenetics
The branching order of these animals is fairly well understood. The suborders Caelifera and EnsiferaEnsifera
Ensifera is a suborder of the order Orthoptera, comprising insects commonly known as crickets, katydids and bush crickets. "Ensifer" means "sword bearer" in Latin, and refers to the typically elongated and blade-like ovipositor of the females...
appear to be monophyletic and Rhaphidophoridae
Rhaphidophoridae
The orthopteran family Rhaphidophoridae includes the cave wetas, cave crickets, camelback crickets, camel crickets, spider crickets and sand treaders, of the suborder Ensifera; in some regions, such as Missouri and Virginia, these crickets are referred to as "Cricket Spiders"...
is a sister group of Tettigoniidae
Tettigoniidae
The family Tettigoniidae, known in American English as katydids and in British English as bush-crickets, contains more than 6,400 species. It is part of the suborder Ensifera and the only family in the superfamily Tettigonioidea. They are also known as long-horned grasshoppers, although they are...
. Pyrgomorphidae
Pyrgomorphidae
Pyrgomorphidae is a family of grasshoppers in the order Orthoptera commonly known as the gaudy grasshoppers. It is the only family in the superfamily Pyrgomorphoidea, and contains 29 genera and at least 70 species and subspecies.-Families and genera:...
are the most basal group of Caelifera. Myrmecophilidae appear to form a clade with Gryllotalpidae instead of with Gryllidae. Additional work may be needed to confirm this.
Among the four subfamilies of Tettigoniidae
Tettigoniidae
The family Tettigoniidae, known in American English as katydids and in British English as bush-crickets, contains more than 6,400 species. It is part of the suborder Ensifera and the only family in the superfamily Tettigonioidea. They are also known as long-horned grasshoppers, although they are...
the relationships are (Phaneropterinae
Phaneropterinae
Phaneropterinae is a subfamily of bush crickets or katydids. Belonging to the family Tettigoniidae, they have nearly 2060 species in 85 genera throughout the world...
+ (Conocephalinae + (Bradyporinae + Tettigoniinae
Tettigoniinae
The subfamily Tettigoniinae, also called shield-backed katydids, contains hundreds of species, with 123 in North America. It is part of the family Tettigoniidae.-Examples:...
))); among six acridid subfamilies the relationships are (Oedipodinae + (Acridinae + (Gomphocerinae
Gomphocerinae
Gomphocerinae is a subfamily of grasshoppers, commonly called slant-faced grasshoppers.Nineteen tribes are recognised:*Acrolophitini*Amblytropidiini Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1893*Arcypterini Bolivar, 1914*Aulocarini...
+ (Oxyinae + (Calliptaminae
Calliptaminae
Calliptaminae is a subfamily of grasshoppers.Genera include::*Acorypha Krauss, 1877*Bosumia Ramme, 1929*Braxyxenia Kirby, 1914*Calliptamus Serville, 1831*Damaracris Brown, 1972*Indomerus Dirsh, 1951*Palaciosa Bolívar, 1930...
+ Cyrtacanthacridinae))))).
Classification
- Suborder EnsiferaEnsiferaEnsifera is a suborder of the order Orthoptera, comprising insects commonly known as crickets, katydids and bush crickets. "Ensifer" means "sword bearer" in Latin, and refers to the typically elongated and blade-like ovipositor of the females...
- Superfamily Grylloidea
- Gryllidae - true crickets
- Gryllotalpidae - mole crickets
- Mogoplistidae
- Myrmecophilidae - ant crickets
- Superfamily Hagloidea
- Haglidae†
- Hagloedischiidae†
- ProphalangopsidaeProphalangopsidae"Grig" redirects here. For the fictional Dungeons and Dragons creature, see Fey .Grigs are insects belonging to the orthopteran family Prophalangopsidae...
- Tuphellidae†
- Superfamily Phasmomimoidea†
- Phasmomimidae†
- Superfamily Rhaphidophoroidea
- RhaphidophoridaeRhaphidophoridaeThe orthopteran family Rhaphidophoridae includes the cave wetas, cave crickets, camelback crickets, camel crickets, spider crickets and sand treaders, of the suborder Ensifera; in some regions, such as Missouri and Virginia, these crickets are referred to as "Cricket Spiders"...
— camel crickets, cave crickets, cave wetas
- Rhaphidophoridae
- Superfamily Schizodactyloidea
- SchizodactylidaeSchizodactylidaeSchizodactylidae is a family of orthopteran insects found in Asia and Africa, known as dune crickets or splay-footed crickets. They are usually found in desert and sandy areas. Some species are believed to be predatory. Detailed study has been investigated for one of the member of Schizodactylidae,...
— dune crickets
- Schizodactylidae
- Superfamily Stenopelmatoidea
- AnostostomatidaeAnostostomatidaeAnostostomatidae is a family in the order Orthoptera. It is sometimes referred to as Mimnermidae or Henicidae in some taxonomies, and common names include King crickets in South Africa, and wetas in New Zealand. They are believed to be most closely related to the Jerusalem crickets of North America...
— wetas, king crickets - CooloolidaeCooloolidaeCooloola is a genus of ensiferan orthopterans. It is the only genus in the family Cooloolidae of the superfamily Gryllacridoidea.Four species are known from this family, all endemic to Queensland, Australia...
- GryllacrididaeGryllacrididaeGryllacrididae are a family of non-jumping cricket-like insects occurring worldwide, known commonly as "leaf-rolling crickets" or "raspy crickets". The family historically has been broadly defined to include what are presently several other families, such as Stenopelmatidae and Rhaphidophoridae ,...
— leaf-rolling crickets - Stenopelmatidae — Jerusalem crickets
- Anostostomatidae
- Superfamily Tettigonioidea
- Haglotettigoniidae†
- TettigoniidaeTettigoniidaeThe family Tettigoniidae, known in American English as katydids and in British English as bush-crickets, contains more than 6,400 species. It is part of the suborder Ensifera and the only family in the superfamily Tettigonioidea. They are also known as long-horned grasshoppers, although they are...
— katydids / bush crickets
- Superfamily Grylloidea
- Suborder Caelifera — grasshoppers, locusts
- Infraorder Acrididea
- Superfamily AcridoideaAcridoideaAcridoidea is a superfamily of grasshoppers including locusts in the order Orthoptera.-Classification:*Acrididae MacLeay, 1821*Catantopidae*Charilaidae Dirsh, 1953*Dericorythidae Jacobson & Bianchi, 1902–1905*Lathiceridae Dirsh, 1954...
- AcrididaeAcrididaeThe Acrididae are the predominant family of grasshoppers, comprising some 10,000 of the 11,000 species of the entire suborder Caelifera. The Acrididae are best known because all locusts are of the Acrididae. The subfamily Oedipodinae is sometimes classified as a distinct family Oedipodidae in the...
— grasshoppers, locusts - Charilaidae
- Dericorythidae
- Lathiceridae
- Lentulidae
- Lithidiidae
- Ommexechidae
- Pamphagidae — toad grasshoppers
- Pyrgacrididae
- RomaleidaeRomaleidaeThe Romaleidae or lubber grasshoppers are a family of grasshoppers.-Selected genera:Subfamily Bactrophorinae:* Bactrophora* OphthalmolampisSubfamily Romaleinae:* Romalea* Taeniopoda* Titanacris...
- Tristiridae
- Acrididae
- Superfamily Eumastacoidea
- Chorotypidae
- Episactidae
- Eumastacidae
- Euschmidtiidae
- Mastacideidae
- Morabidae
- Promastacidae†
- Proscopiidae
- Thericleidae
- Superfamily Locustopsoidea†
- Araripelocustidae†
- Bouretidae†
- Eolocustopsidae†
- Locustavidae†
- Locustopsidae†
- Superfamily Pneumoroidea
- Pneumoridae — bladder grasshoppers
- Superfamily Pyrgomorphoidea
- PyrgomorphidaePyrgomorphidaePyrgomorphidae is a family of grasshoppers in the order Orthoptera commonly known as the gaudy grasshoppers. It is the only family in the superfamily Pyrgomorphoidea, and contains 29 genera and at least 70 species and subspecies.-Families and genera:...
— gaudy grasshoppers
- Pyrgomorphidae
- Superfamily Tanaoceroidea
- Tanaoceridae
- Superfamily Tetrigoidea
- TetrigidaeTetrigidaeTetrigidae is a family in the order Orthoptera, which also includes crickets, grasshoppers, and katydids. Species within the Tetrigidae are variously called grouse locusts, pygmy locusts, groundhoppers or pygmy grasshoppers. There are roughly 1,600 species in about 250 genera altogether...
— grouse locusts
- Tetrigidae
- Superfamily Trigonopterygoidea
- Trigonopterygidae
- Xyronotidae
- Superfamily Acridoidea
- Infraorder Tridactylidea
- Superfamily Dzhajloutshelloidea†
- Dzhajloutshellidae†
- Superfamily Regiatoidea†
- Regiatidae†
- Superfamily Tridactyloidea
- Cylindrachetidae
- Ripipterygidae
- Tridactylidae — pygmy mole crickets
- Superfamily Dzhajloutshelloidea†
- Infraorder Acrididea