| Micropathus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Orthoptera |
| Suborder: | Ensifera |
| Family: | Rhaphidophoridae |
| Subfamily: | Macropathinae |
| Genus: | Micropathus Richards, 1964 |
| Species | |
See text. | |
Micropathus is an Australian genus of cave crickets within the subfamily Macropathinae established by A. M. Richards in 1964. [1] [2] There are five species within this genus, [2] all found in Tasmania. [3]
Sexual dimorphism is not evident in the Micropathus genus [4] beyond the presence of ovipositor and associated variation in subgenital plates that occur in females. [1] The genus displays numerous short setae covering all segments of the body. [1] [5] Apical spines and spurs are abundant on the limbs with varying numbers of pairs found on the fore femur, fore tibia, mid femur, mid tibia, and hind tibia. [1] [5]
Cave crickets M. cavernicola and M. tasmaniensis are omnivorous scavengers, relying on plant and animal tissues such as fungal hyphae and algae that can be obtained around cave entrances. [4] Leaves and twigs from angiosperms are periodically washed into caves providing an additional food source for cave crickets. [4] Observational data of M. tasmaniensis at Cashion Creek Cave and in a confined captive setting indicate that cannibalism occurs within this genus. [4]
All five species in the genus Micropathus are found in caves and rain forest of Tasmania, [3] where they are more common than the endemic Rhaphidophoriae genera Parvotettix , Tasmanoplectron and Cavernotettix. [6] Their distribution may have been in part guided by glaciation during the Pleistocene. [6] They usually appear around the entrance and within 30 metres (98 ft) inside the caves they inhabit. [7] This includes the entrance, twilight, and transition macro habitats within a cave environment. [8]
M. tasmaniensis is primarily located in Southeast Tasmania. [1] [9]
M. cavernicola is primarily located in the Northern and Western parts of Tasmania. [1] [9]
The genetic sex determination mechanism of M. fuscus is based on the ratio of X chromosomes to autosomes, with females carrying two X chromosomes where males of this species carry one. [10] This is consistent with karyotypes of the majority of species within the subfamily of Macropathinae. [10]
The orthopteran family Rhaphidophoridae of the suborder Ensifera has a worldwide distribution. Common names for these insects include cave crickets, camel crickets, Hogan bugs, spider crickets, land shrimp, and sand treaders. Those occurring in New Zealand are typically referred to as jumping or cave wētā. Most are found in forest environments or within caves, animal burrows, cellars, under stones, or in wood or similar environments. All species are flightless and nocturnal, usually with long antennae and legs. More than 500 species of Rhaphidophoridae are described.
Dendroplectron aucklandensis the Auckland Island wētā, is a cave wētā in the family Rhaphidophoridae, the only member of the genus Dendroplectron. It is endemic to the subantarctic Auckland Islands of New Zealand.
Macropathus is a genus of cave wētā in the family Rhaphidophoridae, endemic to New Zealand.
Isoplectron is a genus of cave wētā in the family Rhaphidophoridae with three species currently recognized. The genus is endemic to New Zealand and distributed throughout the country.
Insulanoplectron is a genus of cave wētā in the family Rhaphidophoridae, with just one species: the Snares Island Wētā. Insulanoplectron spinosum is endemic to the subantartic Snares Island of New Zealand, where it is considered to be naturally uncommon. Wētā are nocturnal crickets found all around the world. During the day on the Snares, wētā can be found hiding in seabird burrows.
Novoplectron is a monotypic genus of cave wētā in the family Rhaphidophoridae, endemic to the Chatham Islands. Cave wētā are nocturnal, wingless crickets that occupy humid habitats. Novoplectron wētā generally live under stones and in burrows of seabirds, such as broad-billed prions, mutton birds and storm petrels.
Pharmacus is a genus of cave wētā in the family Rhaphidophoridae, endemic to New Zealand. All species are alpine adapted and found at high elevations in the South Island. They live among rocks on high mountain ridges, often well above glaciers and vegetation. Pharmacus has a geographical range that extends from Nelson south to central Otago and Fiordland. They are small insects with a body length of approximately 14-20mm. In this genus, females are larger than males. All species exhibit dark brown to black pigmentation of the body and legs. They have a dense clothing of setae and a serrated ovipositor. When active they are lively jumpers. For example, Pharmacus montanus is known as the Mount Cook flea because of its habit of leaping out of rock crevices on to mountain climbers.
Pleioplectron is a genus of cave wētā in the family Rhaphidophoridae, endemic to New Zealand. These wētā are fairly common at night among the leaf litter in native forest in the South Island of New Zealand. The species look very similar to species of Miotopus, another New Zealand endemic genus, recently resurrected.
Tasmanoplectron isolatum is a rare nocturnal species of cave cricket, and is the only species represented in the genus Tasmanoplectron, belonging to the family Rhaphidophoridae. In 1971, Aola M. Richards was first to describe this species in Tasmania, Australia, where its geographical distribution is restricted to. The genus is thought to have affinities with New Zealand fauna due to its marked differences from the other Australian Rhaphidophoridae.
Ceuthophilus is a genus of insects in the cave cricket family Rhaphidophoridae. It contains most of the species that are known commonly as camel crickets.
Pachyrhamma waitomoensis, known as the Waitomo cave weta, is a large species of cave weta, native to the Waitomo district of New Zealand.
Pachyrhamma acanthoceras, also known as the Auckland cave wētā, is a large species of cave wētā endemic to New Zealand.
Pharmacus montanus, the Mount Cook flea, is a type of cave wētā found above the tree line in the South Island of New Zealand. It was first described by Francois Jules Pictet de la Rive and Henri Saussure in 1893. Pharmacus montanus is one of the most widespread species within the genus, found from Aoraki/Mount Cook to Mt Owen in northern South Island. The highest recorded specimens of this species are from a population between 2700 and 2800 m above sea level on Mt Annan above the Tasman Glacier.
Pachyrhamma edwardsii is a species of wētā, in the family Rhaphidophoridae, endemic to New Zealand. This species is found in caves, or large cavities where there is high humidity and little plant or animal life.
Wētā is the common name for a group of about 100 insect species in the families Anostostomatidae and Rhaphidophoridae endemic to New Zealand. They are giant flightless crickets, and some are among the heaviest insects in the world. Generally nocturnal, most small species are carnivores and scavengers while the larger species are herbivorous. Although some endemic birds likely prey on them, wētā are disproportionately preyed upon by introduced mammals, and some species are now critically endangered.
Talitropsis sedilloti is a species of flightless wētā, in the family Rhaphidophoridae, endemic to Aotearoa New Zealand. This species is common in forests throughout New Zealand and during the day can be found hiding in holes in tree branches.
Dr Aola Mary Richards was a New Zealand entomologist specialising in the study of New Zealand and Australian cave crickets, or wētā (Rhaphidophoridae), and Australian ladybird beetles (Coccinellidae). She was the first New Zealand woman to gain a PhD in biology.
Cavernotettix is a genus of cave crickets in the family Rhaphidophoridae, in South-Eastern Australia and Tasmania. There are five species in the genus Cavernotettix. The genus was first described by New Zealand entomologist Aola Richards in 1966.
Parvotettix is an extant genus of cave cricket from the order Orthoptera in the family Rhaphidophoridae, endemic to Tasmania, Australia. The genus was established in 1968 by Aola Richards and contains six species she described. Parvotettix is a sister group to the subfamily Macropathinae, forming a paraphyletic Australian grouping.
Novotettix is a monotypic genus of cave cricket/wētā in the family Rhaphidophoridae endemic to south-east Australia.