Mogoplistidae


Mogoplistidae is a family of scaly crickets and allies within the superfamily Grylloidea. Considered to be monophyletic, a sister taxon to the Gryllidae crickets. This family consists of more than 370 species worldwide; 20 species in 4 genera occur in North America and this family includes the scaly crickets of Europe.

Subfamilies, Tribes and selected Genera

The Orthoptera Species File lists the following:

Malgasiinae

Auth.: Gorochov 1984; distribution: Madagascar and Indian Ocean islands
Auth.: Carl [Brunner von Wattenwyl|Brunner von Wattenwyl] 1873
;tribe Arachnocephalini Gorochov 1984
  1. Apterornebius Ingrisch, 2006
  2. Arachnocephalus Costa, 1855
  3. Bothromogoplistes Gorochov, 2020
  4. Cycloptiloides Sjöstedt, 1909
  5. Cycloptilum Scudder, 1869
  6. Discophallus Gorochov, 2009
  7. Ectatoderus Guérin-Méneville, 1847
  8. Ornebius Guérin-Méneville, 1844
  9. Pseudomogoplistes Gorochov, 1984
  10. †Archornebius
  11. †Pseudarachnocephalus Gorochov, 2010
;tribe Mogoplistini Brunner von Wattenwyl 1873
  1. Biama Otte & Alexander, 1983
  2. Collendina Otte & Alexander, 1983
  3. Derectaotus Chopard, 1936
  4. Eucycloptilum Chopard, 1935
  5. Gotvendia Bolívar, 1927
  6. Hoplosphyrum Rehn & Hebard, 1912
  7. Kalyra Otte & Alexander, 1983
  8. Kiah Otte & Alexander, 1983
  9. Marinna Otte & Alexander, 1983
  10. Microgryllus Philippi, 1863
  11. Micrornebius Chopard, 1969
  12. Mogoplistes Serville, 1838
  13. Musgravia Otte, 1994
  14. Oligacanthopus Rehn & Hebard, 1912
  15. Pachyornebius Chopard, 1969
  16. Paramogoplistes Gorochov, 1984
  17. Pongah Otte & Alexander, 1983
  18. Talia Otte & Alexander, 1983
  19. Terraplistes Ingrisch, 2006
  20. Tubarama Yamasaki, 1985
  21. Yarabina Otte, 1994

    †Protomogoplistinae

These crickets have a worldwide distribution: especially in tropical/subtropical environments near water. Like many other crickets, they are omnivorous scavengers and will eat fungi, plant material, and other insects. Members of this family are distinguished from closely related families by the scales that covers their abdomen and parts of their thorax and resemble those of Lepidoptera.

History

The family was originally described by Brunner von Wattenwyl in 1873, but a genus was described earlier, 1838, by Serville and was the basis for the family nomenclature. Mogoplistidae has three subfamilies: Mogoplistinae, Malgasiinae and Protomogoplistinae. Little work has been completed to classify and describe these crickets although work has been done on their acoustic development and identification of new characters.