Tetrigidae is an ancient

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

in the

order Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to: * Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood * Heterarchy, a system of organization wherein the elements have the potential to be ranked a number of d ...

Orthoptera Orthoptera () is an order of insects that comprises the grasshoppers, locusts, and crickets, including closely related insects, such as the bush crickets or katydids and wētā. The order is subdivided into two suborders: Caelifera – grassho ...

, which also includes similar families such as

cricket Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by striki ...

grasshopper Grasshoppers are a group of insects belonging to the suborder Caelifera. They are among what is possibly the most ancient living group of chewing herbivorous insects, dating back to the early Triassic around 250 million years ago. Grasshopp ...

s, and their allies. Species within the Tetrigidae are variously called groundhoppers, pygmy grasshoppers,Borror DJ, Tripplehorn CA, Johnson NF (1989) An Introduction to the Study of Insects, 6th edition. Harcourt Brace College Publishers. New York. pg 213 pygmy devils or (mostly historical) "grouse locusts".Imms AD, rev. Richards OW & Davies RG (1970) ''A General Textbook of Entomology'' 9th Ed. Methuen 886 pp.

Diagnostic characteristics

Tetrigidae Lateral aspect 2012 01 28 1429

Tetrigidae are typically less than 20 mm in length and are recognizable by a long

pronotum The prothorax is the foremost of the three segments in the thorax of an insect, and bears the first pair of legs. Its principal sclerites (exoskeletal plates) are the pronotum (dorsal), the prosternum (ventral), and the propleuron (lateral) on ea ...

. This pronotum extends over the length of the

abdomen The abdomen (colloquially called the belly, tummy, midriff, tucky or stomach) is the part of the body between the thorax (chest) and pelvis, in humans and in other vertebrates. The abdomen is the front part of the abdominal segment of the torso. ...

, sometimes to the tip of the wings, and ends in a point. In other

, the pronotum is short and covers neither the abdomen nor the wings. Tetrigidae are generally cryptic in coloration. Some species have enlarged pronota that

mimic MIMIC, known in capitalized form only, is a former simulation computer language developed 1964 by H. E. Petersen, F. J. Sansom and L. M. Warshawsky of Systems Engineering Group within the Air Force Materiel Command at the Wright-Patterson AFB in ...

leaves A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...

stones In geology, rock (or stone) is any naturally occurring solid mass or aggregate of minerals or mineraloid matter. It is categorized by the minerals included, its chemical composition, and the way in which it is formed. Rocks form the Earth's o ...

twig A twig is a thin, often short, branch of a tree or bush. The buds on the twig are an important diagnostic characteristic, as are the abscission scars where the leaves have fallen away. The color, texture, and patterning of the twig bark are ...

s. Other characteristics pygmy grasshoppers exhibit in comparison to other

families are lack of

arolium The arthropod leg is a form of jointed appendage of arthropods, usually used for walking. Many of the terms used for arthropod leg segments (called podomeres) are of Latin origin, and may be confused with terms for bones: ''coxa'' (meaning hip (anat ...

between the clows, first

thoracic The thorax or chest is a part of the anatomy of humans, mammals, and other tetrapod animals located between the neck and the abdomen. In insects, crustaceans, and the extinct trilobites, the thorax is one of the three main divisions of the crea ...

sternite modified into collar-like structure called sternomentum,

tarsal formula Tarsal formula is the number of segments of the tarsi, which has 3 numbers a-b-c, starting with the fore leg (a), then the middle leg (b), then the hind leg (c). For example, a tarsal formula of "5-5-4" as found in the Trictenotomidae means the ...

2-2-3, scaly fore wings, and developed hind wings.

General biology

In temperate regions, Tetrigidae are generally found along streams and ponds, where they feed on

algae Algae (; singular alga ) is an informal term for a large and diverse group of photosynthetic eukaryotic organisms. It is a polyphyletic grouping that includes species from multiple distinct clades. Included organisms range from unicellular mic ...

and

diatoms A diatom (New Latin, Neo-Latin ''diatoma''), "a cutting through, a severance", from el, διάτομος, diátomos, "cut in half, divided equally" from el, διατέμνω, diatémno, "to cut in twain". is any member of a large group com ...

.Resh VH, Cardé RT (2003) Encyclopedia of Insects. Academic Press, Amsterdam, pg 839 The North American species ''

Paratettix aztecus ''Paratettix aztecus'', the Aztec pygmy grasshopper, is a species of pygmy grasshopper in the family Tetrigidae Tetrigidae is an ancient family in the order Orthoptera, which also includes similar families such as crickets, grasshoppers, and ...

'' and ''Paratettix mexicanus'', for example, depend on aquatic

primary production In ecology, primary production is the synthesis of organic compounds from atmospheric or aqueous carbon dioxide. It principally occurs through the process of photosynthesis, which uses light as its source of energy, but it also occurs through c ...

for between 80% and 100% of their diet. Riparian species are capable of swimming on the surface of the water, and readily leap into the water when alarmedPreston-Mafham K (1990) Grasshoppers and Mantids of the World. Facts of File, New York. pg 32 Some species in the

tribe The term tribe is used in many different contexts to refer to a category of human social group. The predominant worldwide usage of the term in English language, English is in the discipline of anthropology. This definition is contested, in p ...

Scelimenini are fully aquatic and capable of swimming underwater. The highest

biodiversity Biodiversity or biological diversity is the variety and variability of life on Earth. Biodiversity is a measure of variation at the genetic (''genetic variability''), species (''species diversity''), and ecosystem (''ecosystem diversity'') l ...

of Tetrigidae is found in

tropical forests Tropical forests (a.k.a. jungle) are forested landscapes in tropical regions: ''i.e.'' land areas approximately bounded by the tropic of Cancer and Capricorn, but possibly affected by other factors such as prevailing winds. Some tropical fores ...

. Some tropical species are

arboreal Arboreal locomotion is the Animal locomotion, locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some animals may scale trees only occasionally, but others are exclusively arboreal. Th ...

and live among

mosses Mosses are small, non-vascular flowerless plants in the taxonomic division Bryophyta (, ) ''sensu stricto''. Bryophyta (''sensu lato'', Schimp. 1879) may also refer to the parent group bryophytes, which comprise liverworts, mosses, and horn ...

and

lichens A lichen ( , ) is a composite organism that arises from algae or cyanobacteria living among hypha, filaments of multiple fungus, fungi species in a mutualism (biology), mutualistic relationship.buttresses A buttress is an architectural structure built against or projecting from a wall which serves to support or reinforce the wall. Buttresses are fairly common on more ancient buildings, as a means of providing support to act against the lateral (si ...

or in the

canopy Canopy may refer to: Plants * Canopy (biology), aboveground portion of plant community or crop (including forests) * Canopy (grape), aboveground portion of grapes Religion and ceremonies * Baldachin or canopy of state, typically placed over an a ...

, while others live on the forest floor.Grimaldi D, Engel MS (2005) Evolution of the Insects. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. pg 211 Like other

, Tetrigidae have a

hemimetabolous Hemimetabolism or hemimetaboly, also called incomplete metamorphosis and paurometabolism,McGavin, George C. ''Essential Entomology: An Order-by-Order Introduction''. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001. pp. 20. is the mode of development of certa ...

development, in which

egg An egg is an organic vessel grown by an animal to carry a possibly fertilized egg cell (a zygote) and to incubate from it an embryo within the egg until the embryo has become an animal fetus that can survive on its own, at which point the a ...

s hatch into

nymph A nymph ( grc, νύμφη, nýmphē, el, script=Latn, nímfi, label=Modern Greek; , ) in ancient Greek folklore is a minor female nature deity. Different from Greek goddesses, nymphs are generally regarded as personifications of nature, are ty ...

s. Unlike other temperate Orthoptera, however, temperate Tetrigidae generally overwinter as adults. Some

subfamilies In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end subfamily botanical names with "-oideae", and zoologi ...

within the Tetrigidae, such as the Batrachideinae, are sometimes elevated to family rank besides the Tetrigidae. '' Arulenus miae'' is a pygmy grasshopper species from the tropical mountainous rainforests of the Philippines. The species was firstly discovered in

Facebook Facebook is an online social media and social networking service owned by American company Meta Platforms. Founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with fellow Harvard College students and roommates Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin M ...

post.

Etymology

Origin of the name of the family is not completely clear as there are different sources on its etymology. The name may be derived from Latin ''tetricus'' or ''taetricus'', meaning harsh, sour, severe. The name may also originate from the earlier name 'Tettigidae', based on ''Tettix'' (synonym of ''Tetrix''), which was preoccupied by Tettigidae (synonym of

Cicadidae Cicadidae, the true cicadas, is the largest family of cicadas, with more than 3,200 species worldwide. The oldest known definitive fossils are from the Paleocene, a nymph from the Cretaceous Burmese amber has been attributed to the family, but co ...

). Because of the preoccupation by the cicadas' family name, the second 't' in 'tt' was changed into 'r', resulting in the word Tetrigidae.

Subfamilies and Genera

Approximately 2,000

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

have been described; according to the ''Orthoptera Species File'' the following genera are included:

Subfamily Batrachideinae

Auth.: Bolívar, 1887; selected genera: * '' Batrachidea'' Serville, 1838 * ''

Saussurella ''Saussurella''Bolívar I (1887) ''Ann. Soc. Entom. Belgique'' 31: 189, 196, 303. is an Asian genus of Tetrigidae, ground-hoppers (Orthoptera: Caelifera) in the subfamily Batrachideinae. Species The Catalogue of Life and ''Orthoptera Species Fil ...

'' Bolívar, 1887 * '' Tettigidea'' Scudder, 1862

Subfamily
Cladonotinae Cladonotinae is a subfamily of groundhoppers (Orthoptera: Caelifera) containing more than 70 genera and 260 described species. These insects are found in tropical areas world-wide. Tribes and Genera The following genera, in four tribes, belong ...

Auth.: Bolívar, 1887; selected genera: Tribe Cladonotini Bolívar, 1887 * '' Cladonotus'' Saussure, 1862 * ''

Deltonotus ''DeltonotusHancock JL (1904) ''Spolia Zeylanica'' 2: 107. is an Asian genus of ground-hoppers (Orthoptera: Caelifera) in the subfamily Cladonotinae and tribe The term tribe is used in many different contexts to refer to a category of h ...

'' Hancock, 1904 * '' Piezotettix'' Bolívar, 1887 Tribe Choriphyllini Cadena-Castañeda & Silva, 2019 # '' Choriphyllum'' Serville, 1838 # '' Phyllotettix'' Hancock, 1902 Tribe Valalyllini Deranja, Kasalo, Adžić, Franjević & Skejo, 2022 # '' Lepocranus'' Devriese, 1991 # '' Valalyllum'' Deranja, Kasalo, Adžić, Franjević & Skejo, 2022 Tribe

Xerophyllini Cladonotinae is a subfamily of groundhoppers (Orthoptera: Caelifera) containing more than 70 genera and 260 described species. These insects are found in tropical areas world-wide. Tribes and Genera The following genera, in four tribes, belong ...

Günther, 1979 SE Asia - selected genera: * ''

Potua ''Potua'' is a genus of Asian groundhoppers in the subfamily Cladonotinae Cladonotinae is a subfamily of groundhoppers (Orthoptera: Caelifera) containing more than 70 genera and 260 described species. These insects are found in tropical are ...

'' Bolívar, 1887 (genus group) * '' Xerophyllum'' Fairmaire, 1846 Tribe Unassigned * '' Austrohancockia'' Günther, 1938 * '' Cota'' Bolívar, 1887 * '' Epitettix'' Hancock, 1907 * ''

Nesotettix ''Nesotettix'' is a genus of Tetrigidae, groundhoppers belonging to the subfamily Cladonotinae. The species of this genus are found in Central America. Species: *''Nesotettix cheesmanae'' *''Nesotettix samoensis'' References

Tetrigi ...

'' Holdhaus, 1909

Subfamily Lophotettiginae

Auth.: Hancock, 1909 * '' Lophotettix'' Hancock, 1909 * '' Phelene'' Bolívar, 1906

Subfamily
Metrodorinae MetrodorinaeBolívar I (1887) ''Ann. Soc. Entom. Belgique 31:185. is a subfamily of groundhoppers or pygmy grasshoppers. There are at least 90 genera and more than 590 described species, found in South America, Africa and Asia. Genera The ''Or ...

Auth.: Bolívar, 1887; selected genera: Tribe Amorphopini Günther, 1939 * '' Amorphopus'' Serville, 1838 Tribe Cleostratini Hancock, 1907 * '' Cleostratus (insect)'' Stål, 1877 (Philippines) Tribe Clinophaestini Storozhenko, 2013 * '' Birmana'' Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1893 * '' Clinophaestus'' Storozhenko, 2013 Tribe Miriatrini Cadena-Castañeda & Cardona, 2015 (monotypic) * '' Miriatra'' Bolívar, 1906 Tribe Ophiotettigini Tumbrinck & Skejo, 2017 * '' Ophiotettix'' Walker, 1871 * '' Uvarovithyrsus'' Storozhenko, 2016 Tribe Unassigned * '' Bolivaritettix'' Günther, 1939 * '' Cleostratoides'' Storozhenko, 2013 * ''

Crimisus CRIMISUS or CRIMISSUS (Κριμισός, Lycophr., Dionys.; Κριμησός, Plut.; Κριμισσός, Ael.), a river of Sicily, in the neighbourhood of Segesta, celebrated for the great battle fought on its banks in B.C. 339, in which Timoleon, ...

'' Bolívar, 1887 * '' Hildegardia (insect)'' Günther, 1974 * '' Holocerus'' Bolívar, 1887 * '' Macromotettix'' Günther, 1939 * ''

Mazarredia ''Mazarredia''Bolívar I (1887) ''Ann. Soc. Entom. Belgique'' 31: 185, 194, 236. is an Asian genus of ground-hoppers (Orthoptera: Caelifera) in the subfamily Metrodorinae and not assigned to any tribe The term tribe is used in many diffe ...

'' Bolívar, 1887 * '' Pseudoparatettix'' Günther, 1937 * ''

Pseudoxistrella ''Pseudoxistrella''Liang G (1991) ''Oriental Insects'' 25: 95. is an Asian genus of ground-hoppers (Orthoptera: Caelifera) in the subfamily Metrodorinae and not assigned to any tribe. Species ''Pseudoxistrella'' currently consists of two spec ...

'' Liang, 1991 * ''

Vaotettix ''Epitettix parallelus'' is a species of ground-hoppers (Orthoptera: Caelifera), from Vietnam and not assigned to any tribe. This was previously considered a species in the monotypic genus ''Vaotettix'' Podgornaya, 1986, in the subfamily Metrod ...

'' Podgornaya, 1986

Subfamily Scelimeninae

Spiky Grouse Locust (Discotettix belzebuth) (6747966773)

Auth.: Hancock, 1907 Tribe Scelimenini Hancock, 1907; selected genera: * '' Amphibotettix'' Hancock, 1906 * '' Austrohancockia'' Günther, 1938 * '' Bidentatettix'' Zheng, 1992 * '' Discotettix'' Costa, 1864 * '' Gavialidium'' Saussure, 1862 * ''

Scelimena ''Scelimena'' is a genus of ground hoppers, with records from India, Indo-China, Malesia and PNG, belonging to the Tetrigidae family of Orthopterans. Species The ''Orthoptera Species File'' lists: * '' Scelimena bellula'' Storozhenko & Dawwrue ...

'' Serville, 1838 ''

incertae sedis ' () or ''problematica'' is a term used for a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Alternatively, such groups are frequently referred to as "enigmatic taxa". In the system of open nomenclature, uncertainty ...

'' * '' Zhengitettix'' Liang, 1994

Subfamily Tetriginae

Auth.: Serville, 1838 Tribe Dinotettigini Günther, 1979 * '' Afrocriotettix'' Günther, 1938 * '' Dinotettix'' Bolívar, 1905 * '' Ibeotettix'' Rehn, 1930 * '' Lamellitettix'' Hancock, 1904 * '' Marshallacris'' Rehn, 1948 * '' Pseudamphinotus'' Günther, 1979 Tribe Tetrigini Serville, 1838 * '' Clinotettix'' Bei-Bienko, 1933 * '' Coptotettix'' Bolívar, 1887 * ''

Euparatettix ''Euparatettix''Hancock JL (1904) ''Spolia Zeylanica'' 2: 145. is an Asian genus of Tetrigidae, ground-hoppers (Orthoptera: Caelifera) in the subfamily Tetriginae and tribe Tetrigini. Species The Catalogue of Life lists: *''Euparatettix alboma ...

'' Hancock, 1904 * '' Exothotettix'' Zheng & Jiang, 1993 * '' Hydrotetrix'' Uvarov, 1926 * '' Paratettix'' Bolívar, 1887 * '' Tetrix'' Latreille, 1802 (synonym '' Depressotetrix'' Karaman, 1960) * ''

Thibron ''Thibron'' is a genus of insect in the family Tetrigidae (the groundhoppers), tribe Tetrigini, from the central part of Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At abou ...

'' Rehn, 1939 Tribe unassigned: * '' Aalatettix'' Zheng & Mao, 2002 * '' Alulatettix'' Liang, 1993 * '' Ankistropleuron'' Bruner, 1910 * '' Bannatettix'' Zheng, 1993 * '' Bienkotetrix'' Karaman, 1965 * '' Bufonides'' Bolívar, 1898 * '' Carolinotettix'' Willemse, 1951 * '' Coptottigia'' Bolívar, 1912 * '' Cranotettix'' Grant, 1955 * '' Ergatettix'' Kirby, 1914 * '' Flatocerus'' Liang & Zheng, 1984 * '' Formosatettix'' Tinkham, 1937 * '' Formosatettixoides'' Zheng, 1994 * '' Gibbotettix'' Zheng, 1992 * '' Hedotettix'' Bolívar, 1887 * '' Leptacrydium'' Chopard, 1945 * '' Macquillania'' Günther, 1972 * '' Micronotus'' Hancock, 1902 * '' Neocoptotettix'' Shishodia, 1984 * ''

Neotettix ''Neotettix'' is a genus of pygmy grasshoppers in the family Tetrigidae. There are four described species in ''Neotettix'': all from North America. Species These four species belong to the genus ''Neotettix'': * '' Neotettix femoratus'' (Scudder ...

'' Hancock, 1898 * ''

Nomotettix ''Nomotettix'' is a genus of pygmy grasshoppers in the family Tetrigidae Tetrigidae is an ancient family in the order Orthoptera, which also includes similar families such as crickets, grasshoppers, and their allies. Species within the Tetri ...

'' Morse, 1894 * '' Ochetotettix'' Morse, 1900 * ''

Oxyphyllum ''Oxyphyllum'' is a genus of South American flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. ;Species The only known species is ''Oxyphyllum ulicinum'', native to northern Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the west ...

'' Hancock, 1909 * ''

Phaesticus ''Phaesticus'' is a genus of groundhoppers ( Orthoptera: Tetrigidae ''incertae sedis'') found in Malesia and Indo-China Mainland Southeast Asia, also known as the Indochinese Peninsula or Indochina, is the continental portion of Southeast A ...

'' Uvarov, 1940 * '' Sciotettix'' Ichikawa, 2001 * '' Stenodorus'' Hancock, 1906 * '' Teredorus'' Hancock, 1907 * '' Tettiella'' Hancock, 1909 * '' Tettiellona'' Günther, 1979 * '' Uvarovitettix'' Bazyluk & Kis, 1960 * '' Xiaitettix'' Zheng & Liang, 1993

Subfamily Tripetalocerinae

Auth.: Bolívar, 1887 Tripetalocerinae was originally described by Bolívar in 1887 to gather all the Tetrigidae genera of the old world with widened antennae (e.g. ''Arulenus, Discotettix, Hirrius, Ophiotettix, Tripetalocera''). This subfamily today includes only two species in two genera - '' Tripetalocera'' (with one species) from India and Borneo and '' Tripetaloceroides'' (with one species) from

Vietnam Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making i ...

and

PR China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...

. Members of the subfamily are characteristic within Tetrigidae by massive antennae built up of only eight segments (other Tetrigidae have usually 11-16, Batrachideinae 18-22). Till recently, the subfamily included two tribes - Tripetalocerini and Clinophaestini (including '' Clinophaestus'' and '' Birmana''), but the later was moved to the subfamily

Metrodorinae MetrodorinaeBolívar I (1887) ''Ann. Soc. Entom. Belgique 31:185. is a subfamily of groundhoppers or pygmy grasshoppers. There are at least 90 genera and more than 590 described species, found in South America, Africa and Asia. Genera The ''Or ...

due to similarity to Ophiotettigini. * '' Tripetalocera'' - monotypic '' Tripetalocera ferruginea'' Westwood, 1834 * '' Tripetaloceroides'' Storozhenko, 2013 - monotypic '' Tripetaloceroides tonkinensis'' (Günther, 1938)

Subfamily unassigned

Criotettigini

Auth. Kevan, 1966 * '' Criotettix'' Bolívar, 1887 * '' Dasyleurotettix'' Rehn, 1904

Thoradontini

Auth. Kevan, 1966 * '' Eucriotettix'' Hebard, 1930 * ''

Loxilobus ''Loxilobus''Hancock JL (1904) ''Spolia Zeylanica'' 2: 108. is a genus of Tetrigidae, ground-hoppers (Orthoptera: Caelifera) in the Tribe (biology), tribe Thoradontini. Species have been recorded from West Africa, throughout Asia and Australia. ...

'' Hancock, 1904 * ''

Thoradonta ''Thoradonta'' is an Asian genus of ground-hoppers ( Orthoptera: Caelifera) and typical of the tribe Thoradontini. This genus contains species distributed from India to southern China, Indo-China, Malesia through to New Guinea. Species The ...

'' Hancock, 1909

Subfamily and tribe unassigned

* '' Bolotettix'' Hancock, 1907 * '' Cyphotettix'' Rehn, 1952 * †'' Eozaentetrix'' Zessin, 2017 * '' Euloxilobus'' Sjöstedt, 1936 * '' Paramphinotus'' Zheng, 2004 * '' Peronotettix'' Rehn, 1952 * ''

'' Uvarov, 1940 (synonym ''Flatocerus'' Liang & Zheng, 1984) * '' Probolotettix'' Günther, 1939 * '' Pseudosystolederus'' Günther, 1939 * '' Syzygotettix'' Günther, 1938 * '' Tettitelum'' Hancock, 1915 * ''† Archaeotetrix'' Sharov, 1968 * ''† Prototetrix'' Sharov, 1968

References

External links

* *
Pygmy locustsBugGuide.net
{{Taxonbar, from=Q768200 Orthoptera families Extant Triassic first appearances