- Tetrigidae
Taxobox
name = Tetrigidae
image_width = 240px
image_caption = "Tetrix" species
regnum =Animal ia
phylum =Arthropod a
classis =Insect a
ordo =Orthoptera
subordo =Caelifera
superfamilia = Tetrigoidea
familia = Tetrigidae
subdivision_ranks = Subfamilies
subdivision =
*Batrachideinae
*Cladonotinae
*Cleostratinae
*Discotettiginae
*Lophotettiginae
*Metrodorinae
*Scelimeninae
*Tetriginae
*Tripetalocerinae Tetrigidae is a family in the order
Orthoptera , which also includes crickets,grasshopper s, andkatydid s. Species within the Tetrigidae are variously called grouse locusts, pygmy locusts, groundhoppers or pygmy grasshoppers. There are roughly 1,400species in about 270 genera altogether. In temperate regions, Tetrigidae are generally found along streams and ponds, where they feed onalgae anddiatoms Resh VH, Cardé RT (2003) Encyclopedia of Insects. Academic Press, Amsterdam, pg 839 ] . The North American species "Paratettix aztecus" and "Paratettix mexicanus", for example, depend on aquaticprimary production for between 80% and 100% of their diet [ Bastow JL, Sabo JL, Finlay JC, Power ME (2002) A basal aquatic-terrestrial trophic link in rivers: algal subsidies via shore-dwelling grasshoppers.Oecologia 131: 261–268] . Riparian species are capable of swimming on the surface of the water, and readily leap into the water when alarmed Preston-Mafham K (1990) Grasshoppers and Mantids of the World. Facts of File, New York. pg 32] . Some species in the tribeScelimini are fully aquatic and capable of swimming underwater . The highestbiodiversity of Tetrigidae is found intropical forests . Some tropical species arearboreal and live amongmosses andlichens in tree buttresses or in the canopy , while others live on the forest floor Grimaldi D, Engel MS (2005) Evolution of the Insects. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. pg 211] .Like other
Orthoptera , Tetrigidae have a hemimetabolous development, in which eggs hatch into nymphs. Unlike other temperate Orthoptera, however, temperate Tetrigidae generally overwinter as adults Borror DJ, Tripplehorn CA, Johnson NF (1989) An Introduction to the Study of Insects, 6th edition. Harcourt Brace College Publishers. New York. pg 213] .Some subfamilies within the Tetrigidae, such as the
Batrachideinae , are sometimes elevated to family rank besides the Tetrigidae.Diagnostic characteristics
Pygmy locusts are less than 20 mm in length, and are recognizable by a long
pronotum , which extends over the length of theabdomen , almost to the tip of the wings, and ends in a point. In otherOrthoptera , the pronotum is short and covers neither the abdomen nor the wings. Tetrigidae are generally cryptic in coloration . Some species have enlarged pronota whichmimic leaves , stones ortwig s .External links
* [http://www.sprinkhaan.be/ Pygmy locusts]
* [http://www.cirrusimage.com/orthoptera_pygmy_grasshopper.htm Pygmy grasshoppers]
* [http://bugguide.net/node/view/106 BugGuide.net]References
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