Orthoptera
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 Patanga japonica
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Orthoptera ("Straight Wings") is a widespread order of generally large- or medium-sized insects with incomplete metamorphosis (hemimetabolism), chewing/biting mouthparts, and two pairs of wings. This order includes the grasshoppers, crickets, and locusts.
Orthopterans have two pairs of wings; the forewings are narrower than the hind wings and hardened at the base. They are held overlapping the abdomen at rest. The hind wing is membranous and held folded fan-like under the forewings when at rest. Orthopterans have mandibulate mouthparts, large compound eyes, and antennae length varies with species.
Grasshoppers, katydidds and crickets are known for thei raiblty to jump and for singing by males (Gw.. 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. Their ears, located in the front legs, are interconnected in such a way that they are able to locate each other by sound.
Caelifera (long-horned grasshoppers, including true grasshoppers and locusts) and Ensifera (short-horned grasshoppers, including crickets and katydids) are currently the only two suborders in Orthoptera. Traditionally, the order had also included cockroaches, preying mantis, and walking sticks.
long-horend orthopters have characteristci trhed like antennae which exceed body length and can be several times body length, largely nocturnal, with well over 30 segemsnt in antenaae.
some of best examples of cryptic coloration, looking like leavesor other vegetation.
Characteristics
Orthopterans develop by incomplete metamorphosis. Most orthopterans lay their eggs 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. Through successive moults the nymphs develop wings buds until their final moult into a mature adult with fully developed wings.
Grasshoppers develop by incomplete metamorphosis, a process in which the larvae resembles the adults somewhat, as they have compound eyes, developed legs and wing stubs visible on the outside, but the juvenile forms are smaller and, if the adult has wings, lack wings. In this mode of development, which involves gradual change, there are three distinct stages: the egg, nymph, and the adult stage, or imago. There is no pupal stage characteristic of complete metamorphosis.
Most orthopterans lay their eggs 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. Through successive molts the nymphs develop wings buds until their final molt into a mature adult with fully developed wings.
The number of molts 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 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.
large to medium sized insects, with body lengths of leass than 10mm (0.4 inches) uncommon, and some exceed 50 mm (2 incehs) in length, with some with bodies over 100 mm long and wingspan of 200mm or more.The smallest are below 2mm.
oldest fossils from Carboniferous period (G) and most families of Ensifera pappareaed between early Jurassic and early Triassic period, while oldest extant family of Cealifera appeared in middle Jurassic.
Foud nearly all over the world in most habitats where find insects, absetn only in oceans, plar regions, and extreme alpine regions (g).
some of most voracious pests.
mostly plant eaters, but some of the Ensifera are carnivorous.
Caelifera
Types
The suborder Caelifera is classified into 8 superfamilies, 22 families, about 2,400 genera, and over 10,400 described species (Grzimek et al. 2004). Five of these are major families:
- Acrididae (field grasshoppers and locusts)
- Eumastacidae (monkey grasshoppers)
- Tanaoceridae (tanaocerids)
- Tetrigidae (grouse locusts, pygmy grasshoppers, and pygmy locusts)
- Tridactylidae (pygmy mole crickets)
The largest superfamily is Acridoidea with over 7,200 described species in 1,600 genera. The largest family is Acrididae. The family is characterized by the short, thickened antennae and relatively unmodified anatomy. They are often visually more striking than other Caelifera, due to the adults' wings and legs, which are well developed and may be brightly colored. Auditory organs are on the abdomen, unlike on the forelegs of the family Tettigoniidae. The true grasshoppers produce sounds by rubbing their legs against the abdomen, and there may also be a visual display. The Acrididae includes the locusts, which can be serious economic pests.
The term grasshopper is an imprecisely defined common name. It generally is used in reference to members of both the orthopteran family Acrididae ("short-horned grasshoppers") of the suborder Caelifera and to members of the family Tettigoniidae ("long-horned grasshoppers") of the suborder Ensifera. It may also be used to refer only to the Acrididae ("true grasshoppers") or to the entire suborder Caelifera (Capinera et al. 2006). Members of Caelifera are also referred to as a group as short-horned grasshoppers, with members of Ensifera as long-horned grasshoppers (Grzimek et al. 2004).
Diurnal activity common in short-horned grasshoppers, with grasshoppers and locusts feeding and mating during the day, and molting and laying eggs at nigth, while reverse is true for katydids and cridckets, chosing noctural nactivity.
Swarming behaviro not restricted to Caelifera, but within the Ensifer certian katydid can produce huge swarms. from G., 5
Ensifera
suborder Ensifera (long-horned grasshopper suborder) is divided into 6 superfamilies, 21 families, 1,900 genera, and 11,000 described species (G). The largest superfamily is Tettigonioidea (katydids or bush-crickets) with over 1,000 genera and 7,000 known species (G). The sueprfamily Grylloidea (crickets) includes over 500 genera and 3,500 described species.
Members of Tettigoniidae are commonly known as bush crickets or katydids, and are closely related to the crickets, which are also members of Ensifera. Caelifera also includes the locusts, which is the name given to the migratory members of short-horned grasshoppers of the family Acrididae. Both Caelifera and Ensifera have mainly herbivorous insects, but there are a few carniverous species in Ensifera.
The Tettigoniidae (long-horned grasshoppers) are typified by antennae longer than the body, while the Acrididae (short-horned grasshoppers) have antennae shorter than the body.
Orthoptera as food
The Orthoptera are the only insects considered kosher in Judaism. Although the Bible may be read as stating that all Orthoptera are kosher except those, such as the mole cricket, that do not jump, halakhic authorities state that only four species known in Yemen are kosher.
Taxonomy note
Generally two suborders.
Some consider Orthopter only short-horned grasshoppers anand Gryllodea, an orderthat includes only longhorned grasshoppers, such as crickets and katydids.
- Suborder Ensifera - crickets, katydids, and allies
- Superfamily Grylloidea
- Gryllidae - true crickets
- Gryllotalpidae - mole crickets
- Mogoplistidae
- Myrmecophilidae - ant crickets
- Superfamily Hagloidea
- Prophalangopsidae
- Superfamily Rhaphidophoroidea
- Rhaphidophoridae - camel crickets, cave crickets, cave wetas
- Superfamily Schizodactyloidea
- Schizodactylidae - dune crickets
- Superfamily Stenopelmatoidea
- Anostostomatidae - wetas, king crickets
- Cooloolidae
- Gryllacrididae - leaf-rolling crickets
- Stenopelmatidae - Jerusalem crickets
- Superfamily Tettigonioidea
- Tettigoniidae - katydids / bush crickets
- Superfamily Grylloidea
- Suborder Caelifera - grasshoppers, locusts
- Superfamily Acridoidea
- Acrididae - grasshoppers, locusts
- Arcypteridae
- Catantopidae
- Charilaidae
- Chrotogonidae
- Lathiceridae
- Lentulidae
- Pamphagidae - toad grasshoppers
- Pneumoridae - bladder grasshoppers
- Proscopiidae
- Pyrgomorphidae - gaudy grasshoppers
- Superfamily Eumastacoidea
- Chorotypidae
- Episactidae
- Eumastacidae
- Euschmidtiidae
- Mastacideidae
- Morabidae
- Proscopiidae
- Thericleidae
- Superfamily Pneumoroidea
- Superfamily Acridoidea
- Pneumoridae
- Superfamily Pyrgomorphoidea
- Pyrgomorphidae
- Superfamily Tanaoceroidea
- Tanaoceridae
- Superfamily Tetrigoidea
- Tetrigidae - grouse locusts
- Superfamily Tridactyloidea
- Cylindrachetidae
- Rhipipterygidae
- Tridactylidae - pygmy mole crickets
- Superfamily Trigonopterygoidea
- Trigonopterygidae
- Xyronotidae
- Superfamily Tetrigoidea
Note that the cricket suborder Ensifera will probably be given its own order soon, the Grylloptera. The Orthopterists' Society also recently (December 2005) decided upon a major change in the classificatory organization of the Ensifera.
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- Grzimek, B., D. G. Kleiman, V. Geist, and M. C. McDade. 2004. Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia. Detroit: Thomson-Gale. ISBN 0787657883.
- O'Toole, C. 2002. Firefly Encyclopedia of Insects and Spiders. Buffalo, N.Y.: Firefly Books. ISBN 1552976122.
External links
- Orthoptera Species File Online
- Orthoptera Image Gallery (Iowa State University Entomology Department)
- Australian Plague Locust Commission
- The Orthopterists' Society
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