Tetrigidae is an ancient

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

in the order

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 – gras ...

, which also includes similar families such as

cricket Cricket is a Bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball game played between two Sports team, teams of eleven players on a cricket field, field, at the centre of which is a cricket pitch, pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two Bail (cr ...

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

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 in length and are recognizable by a long pronotum. This pronotum extends over the length of the

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

, 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 In evolutionary biology, mimicry is an evolved resemblance between an organism and another object, often an organism of another species. Mimicry may evolve between different species, or between individuals of the same species. In the simples ...

leaves A leaf (: leaves) is a principal appendage of the stem of a vascular plant, usually borne laterally above ground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, stem, ...

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 compound, chemical composition, and the way in which it is formed. Rocks ...

twig A twig is a thin, often short, branch of a tree or Bush (plant), 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 t ...

s. Other characteristics pygmy grasshoppers exhibit in comparison to other

families are the lack of an arolium between the claws, the first

thoracic The thorax (: thoraces or thoraxes) or chest is a part of the anatomy of 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 ...

sternite being modified into collar-like structure called sternomentum, a tarsal formula of 2-2-3, scaly fore -wings, and developed hindwings.

General biology

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

algae Algae ( , ; : alga ) is an informal term for any organisms of a large and diverse group of photosynthesis, photosynthetic organisms that are not plants, and includes species from multiple distinct clades. Such organisms range from unicellular ...

and diatoms.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 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 ...

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 use of the term in English is in the discipline of anthropology. The definition is contested, in part due to conflict ...

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

biodiversity Biodiversity is the variability of life, life on Earth. It can be measured on various levels. There is for example genetic variability, species diversity, ecosystem diversity and Phylogenetics, phylogenetic diversity. Diversity is not distribut ...

of Tetrigidae is found in tropical forests. Some tropical species are

arboreal Arboreal locomotion is the 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 (scansorial), but others are exclusively arboreal. The hab ...

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 ho ...

and

lichens A lichen ( , ) is a hybrid colony (biology), colony of algae or cyanobacteria living symbiotically among hypha, filaments of multiple fungus species, along with yeasts and bacteria embedded in the cortex or "skin", in a mutualism (biology), m ...

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

, Tetrigidae have a hemimetabolous development, in which eggs hatch into

nymph A nymph (; ; sometimes spelled nymphe) is a minor female nature deity in ancient Greek folklore. Distinct from other Greek goddesses, nymphs are generally regarded as personifications of nature; they are typically tied to a specific place, land ...

s. Unlike other temperate Orthoptera, however, temperate Tetrigidae generally overwinter as adults. Some subfamilies 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 a social media and social networking service owned by the American technology conglomerate Meta Platforms, Meta. Created in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with four other Harvard College students and roommates, Eduardo Saverin, Andre ...

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,World Auchenorrhyncha Database: fam ...

). 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 A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

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

Subfamily Cladonotinae

Auth.: Bolívar, 1887; selected genera: Tribe Cladonotini Bolívar, 1887 * '' Cladonotus'' Saussure, 1862 * '' Deltonotus'' 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 Günther, 1979 SE Asia - selected genera: * '' Potua'' Bolívar, 1887 (genus group) * '' Xerophyllum'' Fairmaire, 1846 Tribe Unassigned * '' Austrohancockia'' Günther, 1938 * '' Cota'' Bolívar, 1887 * '' Epitettix'' Hancock, 1907 * '' Nesotettix'' Holdhaus, 1909

Subfamily Lophotettiginae

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

Subfamily Metrodorinae

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 (insect)'' Bolívar, 1887 * '' Hildegardia (insect)'' Günther, 1974 * '' Holocerus'' Bolívar, 1887 * '' Macromotettix'' Günther, 1939 * '' Mazarredia'' Bolívar, 1887 * '' Pseudoparatettix'' Günther, 1937 * '' Pseudoxistrella'' Liang, 1991 * '' Vaotettix'' Podgornaya, 1986

Subfamily Scelimeninae

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'' Serville, 1838 ''

incertae sedis or is a term used for a taxonomy (biology), 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 * '' Euparatettix'' Hancock, 1904 * '' Exothotettix'' Zheng & Jiang, 1993 * '' Hydrotetrix'' Uvarov, 1926 * '' Paratettix'' Bolívar, 1887 * '' Pseudosystolederus'' Günther, 1939 - southern Africa * '' Tetrix'' Latreille, 1802 (synonym '' Depressotetrix'' Karaman, 1960) * '' Thibron'' 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'' Hancock, 1898 * '' Nomotettix'' Morse, 1894 * '' Ochetotettix'' Morse, 1900 * '' Oxyphyllum'' Hancock, 1909 * '' Phaesticus'' 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, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV), is a country at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of about and a population of over 100 million, making it the world's List of countries and depende ...

and PR China. 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). Until recently, the subfamily included two tribes - Tripetalocerini and Clinophaestini (including '' Clinophaestus'' and '' Birmana''), but the later was moved to the subfamily Metrodorinae 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 * '' Aryalidonta'' Subedi & Kasalo, 2023 * '' Eucriotettix'' Hebard, 1930 * '' Loxilobus'' Hancock, 1904 * '' Thoradonta'' Hancock, 1909

Subfamily and tribe unassigned

# †'' Archaeotetrix'' # '' Bolotettix'' # '' Coptotettix'' # '' Cyphotettix'' # †'' Eozaentetrix'' # '' Euloxilobus'' # '' Parahirrius'' # '' Paramphinotus'' # '' Peronotettix'' # '' Phaesticus'' (synonym ''Flatocerus'' ) # '' Probolotettix'' # †'' Prototetrix'' # '' Syzygotettix'' # '' Tettitelum''

References

External links

* *
Pygmy locustsBugGuide.net
{{Authority control Orthoptera families Extant Triassic first appearances