Pyrgomorphidae | |
---|---|
Pyrgomorpha conica , a well-camouflaged species | |
Phymateus morbillosus, a toxic species with bright warning colours | |
Scientific classification | |
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 is 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.
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]
Incomplete list of genera and species: [1]
All tribes and selected genera only are shown here:
Some notable genera and species are shown here:
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.
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.
Bandwings, or band-winged grasshoppers, are the subfamily Oedipodinae of grasshoppers classified under the family Acrididae. They have a worldwide distribution and were originally elevated to full family status as the Oedipodidae. Many species primarily inhabit xeric weedy fields, and some are considered to be important locusts:
The grasshopper subfamily Acridinae, sometimes called silent slant-faced grasshoppers, belong of the large family Acrididae in the Orthoptera: Caelifera.
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".
Gomphocerinae, sometimes called "slant-faced grasshoppers", are a subfamily of grasshoppers found on every continent but Antarctica and Australia.
Atractomorpha is a genus in the Pyrgomorphidae, a family of grasshoppers, found in Africa, Asia, and Australia.
Petasida ephippigera, the Leichhardt's grasshopper, is a relatively large, brightly coloured pyrgomorph species of grasshopper in the monotypic genus Petasida, native to the Top End region of tropical northern Australia.
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.
Meconematinae is a subfamily of the bush crickets, with a worldwide distribution.
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.
Oxyinae is subfamily of grasshoppers in the family Acrididae. Species are distributed throughout Africa and Australasia.
Catantopini is a tribe in the subfamily Catantopinae, a group of grasshoppers found in Africa, Asia and Australia.
The Coptacrinae are a subfamily of Acrididae in the Orthoptera: Caelifera. Species can be found in Africa and Asia.
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.
The Pyrgomorphinae are a sub-family 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.
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.
Podoscirtinae is a subfamily of crickets in the family Gryllidae.
Dictyophorus griseus is a species of grasshopper in the family Pyrgomorphidae, the gaudy grasshoppers, native to tropical Africa. Adults are typically about 5–6.5 cm (2.0–2.6 in) long.