Department of Entomology

Orthoptera (Saltatoria) (Grasshoppers, Crickets and Katydids)

Family Fact Sheet

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Orthoptera - Brigham Young/VPI & SU PCD0350036

I. Background information

A. Origin of name

1. Greek - orthos, straight; pteron, wing
2. Relates to shape of forewings

B. Classification

1. Suborders - 2
a. Caelifera
b. Encifera
2. America north of Mexico - 10 families, 574 genera, 1,804 species
3. World - ? families, ? genera, ? species
4. Estimate of undescribe species - 25% in N. America

C. Common names - Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids

D. Type of metamorphosis - Paurometabolous

E. Phylogenetic relationships

1. Orthopteroid

II. Morphological characteristics

A. Body usually linear in shape

B. Antennae conspicuous

D. Fore wing straight, narrow and parchment-like in tecture (tegmina). Some species wingless as adults.

E. Hind wing broad, membranous, and fan-like

F. Hindlegs adapted for jumping

G. Most males possess sound producing organs

III. Biological summary for the order

A. Life history

1. Eggs -often laid in soil
2. Nymphs - Similar to adults but wings are not developed. Often with five instars. Live in same habitat as adults.
3. Adults
4. Single generation per year

B. Habitat

1. Feed on vegetation in open fields.
2. Some species found in trees and bushes.
3. One small group is aquatic with hind legs fitted for swimming

C. Habits (mode of existence)

. Most species feed on vegetation.
2. Some are predacious

D. Collecting and preserving

1. Sweeping vegetation
2. Mount on pins
3. Spread left wing (if they have a diagnostic pattern)

E. Behavior

1. Produce sound to attract the opposite sex (stridulation)
2. Tympana on sides of first abdominal segment (short-horned) or at the base of the front tibiae (long-horned and crickets).
3. Long-horned grasshoppers produce sound by rubbing a sharpe edge at the base of the front wing (scraper) along a filelike ridge on the ventral side of the other front wing (file) (Fig. 14-2).

F. Significance

1. Economic - Often very numerous
2. Ecological - Hebivores and predators

IV. Other Web Sites

• The Orthopterists Society