Pyrgomorphidae

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Pyrgomorphidae
Pyrgomorpha conica.jpg
Pyrgomorpha conica , a well-camouflaged species
Phymateus morbillosus (Pyrgomorphidae) (4761619550).jpg
Phymateus morbillosus, a toxic species with bright warning colours
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Orthoptera
Suborder: Caelifera
Superfamily: Pyrgomorphoidea
Family: Pyrgomorphidae
Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1874
Subfamilies and Tribes

See text

Pyrgomorphidae is a family of grasshoppers in the order Orthoptera; it is the only family in the superfamily Pyrgomorphoidea. [1] Pyrgomorphidae are found worldwide in tropical and warm temperate regions (though none are from US mainland), [1] but the vast majority of the family's approximately 500 species are from Africa, Asia and Australia. [2] Their name is probably derived from pyrgos (Greek: Πύργος) meaning "tower": a reference to the form (morph) of the head in the type genus Pyrgomorpha and other genera.

Contents

They may sometimes be known as "gaudy grasshoppers", [1] due to the striking, bright aposematic colouration of a number of genera, warning of their toxicity. [2] However, about 90% of the species in the family are harmless and well-camouflaged, [2] with a few, notably Sphenarium , even caught for human consumption. [3]

Subfamilies and tribes

Incomplete list of genera and species: [1]

Subfamily Orthacridinae

All tribes and selected genera only are shown here:

Neorthacris simulans at Kadavoor, Kerala, India Neorthacris simulans-Kadavoor-2016-09-13-002.jpg
Neorthacris simulans at Kadavoor, Kerala, India

Subfamily Pyrgomorphinae

Some notable genera and species are shown here:

Atractomorpha similis Atractomorpha similis (8416619989).jpg
Atractomorpha similis
Immature Dictyophorus spumans Cedarberg South Africa Immature Dictyophorus spumans Cedarberg South Africa.jpg
Immature Dictyophorus spumans Cedarberg South Africa
Phymateus morbillosus. Male. Common milkweed locust photographed in thorn tree (African acacia sp.) at Sterkfontein Pyrgomorphidae Phymateus morbillosus Male Common milkweed locust 9258.jpg
Phymateus morbillosus . Male. Common milkweed locust photographed in thorn tree (African acacia sp.) at Sterkfontein

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acrididae</span> Family of grasshoppers in the suborder Caelifera

Acrididae, commonly called short-horned grasshoppers, 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 superfamily Acridoidea. Acrididae grasshoppers are characterized by relatively short and stout antennae, and tympana on the side of the first abdominal segment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catantopinae</span> Subfamily of grasshoppers

The subfamily Catantopinae is a group of insects classified under family Acrididae. Genera such as Macrotona may sometimes called "spur-throated grasshoppers", but that name is also used for grasshoppers from other subfamilies, including the genus Melanoplus from the Melanoplinae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acridinae</span> Subfamily of grasshoppers

The grasshopper subfamily Acridinae, sometimes called silent slant-faced grasshoppers, belong of the large family Acrididae in the Orthoptera: Caelifera.

Tanita is a genus of grasshoppers in the family Pyrgomorphidae, which lives in Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tetrigidae</span> Family of grasshoppers

Tetrigidae is an ancient family in the order Orthoptera, which also includes similar families such as crickets, grasshoppers, and their allies. Species within the Tetrigidae are variously called groundhoppers, pygmy grasshoppers, pygmy devils or "grouse locusts".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pseudophyllinae</span> Subfamily of cricket-like animals

The subfamily Pseudophyllinae contains numerous species in the family Tettigoniidae, the katydids or bush crickets. Sometimes called "true katydids", together with the crickets of suborder Ensifera, they form part of the insect order Orthoptera which also contains grasshoppers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phaneropterinae</span> Subfamily of cricket-like animals

The Phaneropterinae, the sickle-bearing bush crickets or leaf katydids, are a subfamily of insects within the family Tettigoniidae. Nearly 2,060 species in 85 genera throughout the world are known. They are also known as false katydids or round-headed katydids.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gomphocerinae</span> Subfamily of grasshoppers

Gomphocerinae, sometimes called "slant-faced grasshoppers", are a subfamily of grasshoppers found on every continent but Antarctica and Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chorotypidae</span> Family of grasshoppers

Chorotypidae is a family of tropical Asian grasshoppers, formerly included within the family Eumastacidae. These grasshoppers have a head that rises above the level of the thorax and short antennae. Some species have reduced wings, others have wings that widen towards the tips and still others have a flattened leaf-like shape. They lack abdominal tympani.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meconematinae</span> Subfamily of cricket-like animals

Meconematinae is a subfamily of the bush crickets, with a worldwide distribution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mecopodinae</span> Subfamily of cricket-like animals

Mecopodinae are a subfamily of bush crickets found in western South America, sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia. In Asia, the distribution includes India, Indochina, Japan, the Philippines, and Malesia to Papua New Guinea and Australasia, including many Pacific islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oxyinae</span> Subfamily of grasshoppers

Oxyinae is subfamily of grasshoppers in the family Acrididae. Species are distributed throughout Africa and Australasia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catantopini</span> Tribe of grasshoppers

Catantopini is a tribe in the subfamily Catantopinae, a group of grasshoppers found in Africa, Asia and Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hemiacridinae</span> Subfamily of grasshoppers

The Hemiacridinae are a subfamily of Acrididae in the Orthoptera: Caelifera. Species can be found in Africa and Asia.

<i>Pyrgomorpha</i> Genus of grasshoppers

Pyrgomorpha is the type genus of grasshoppers in the family Pyrgomorphidae and the tribe Pyrgomorphini. Species are found in Southern Europe, Africa and the middle East, through to India and Mongolia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pyrgomorphinae</span> Subfamily of grasshoppers

The Pyrgomorphinae are a subfamily of grasshoppers in the family Pyrgomorphidae. Species are found in, especially the warmer parts of: Central and South America, southern Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and Pacific Islands. The type genus is Pyrgomorpha and names dates from "Pyrgomorphiden" by Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1874. The first use of Pyrgomorphinae was by Krauss in 1890.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orthacridinae</span> Subfamily of grasshoppers

The Orthacridinae are a sub-family of grasshoppers in the family Pyrgomorphidae. Species are found in: Central America, Africa, Asia, Australia and certain Pacific Islands. The type genus is Orthacris and the taxon proposed by Bolívar in 1905.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Podoscirtinae</span> Subfamily of crickets

Podoscirtinae is a subfamily of crickets in the family Gryllidae.

<i>Dictyophorus</i> Genus of grasshoppers

Dictyophorus is the type genus of grasshoppers in the tribe Dictyophorini, of the family Pyrgomorphidae; it is native to sub-Saharan Africa. The genus was named by Carl Peter Thunberg in 1815. They are relatively large, typically about 4–7 cm (1.6–2.8 in) long, and often have bright colurs warning of their toxicity.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Family Pyrgomorphidae Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1874: Orthoptera Species File".
  2. 1 2 3 Mariño-Pérez, R.; Song, H. (2017). "Phylogeny of the grasshopper family Pyrgomorphidae(Caelifera, Orthoptera) based on morphology". Systematic Entomology. 43 (1): 90–108. doi:10.1111/syen.12251.
  3. Cerritos, R.; Cano-Santana, Z. (2008). "Harvesting grasshoppers Sphenarium purpurascens in Mexico for human consumption: A comparison with insecticidal control for managing pest outbreaks". Crop Protection. 27 (3–5): 473–480. Bibcode:2008CrPro..27..473C. doi:10.1016/j.cropro.2007.08.001.
  4. 1 2 "Orthoptera (Grasshoppers & Locusts)". anic.ento.csiro.au. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
  5. "2. Petasida ephippigera White".