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 Tetrigidae are variously called groundhoppers, pygmy grasshoppers, pygmy devils or "grouse locusts".

Diagnostic characteristics

Tetrigidae are typically less than in length and are recognizable by a long pronotum. This pronotum extends over the length of the abdomen, sometimes to the tip of the wings, and ends in a point. In other Orthoptera, 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 leaves, stones or twigs.
Other characteristics pygmy grasshoppers exhibit in comparison to other Orthoptera families are the lack of an arolium between the claws, the first thoracic 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 and diatoms. The North American species Paratettix aztecus and Paratettix mexicanus, for example, depend on aquatic primary production for between 80% and 100% of their diet. Detritus, moss and fungal hyphae also dominates the diet in many species. Riparian species are capable of swimming on the surface of the water, and readily leap into the water when alarmed Some species in the tribe Scelimenini are fully aquatic and capable of swimming underwater.
The highest biodiversity of Tetrigidae is found in tropical forests. Some tropical species are arboreal and live among mosses and lichens in tree buttresses or in the canopy, while others live on the forest floor.
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.
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 post.
[Image:TetrigidAlgaeS.jpg|300px|thumb|Paratettix aztecus eating algae]

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

Subfamilies, tribes and selected genera

More than 2,000 species have been described; according to the Orthoptera Species File the following tribes are included:

Subfamily [Batrachideinae]

Auth.: Bolívar, 1887; selected genera:
Auth.: Bolívar, 1887; selected genera:
Tribe Cladonotini Bolívar, 1887
Tribe Choriphyllini Cadena-Castañeda & Silva, 2019
  1. Choriphyllum Serville, 1838
  2. Phyllotettix Hancock, 1902
Tribe Valalyllini Deranja, Kasalo, Adžić, Franjević & Skejo, 2022
  1. Lepocranus Devriese, 1991
  2. Valalyllum Deranja, Kasalo, Adžić, Franjević & Skejo, 2022
Tribe Xerophyllini Günther, 1979
SE Asia - selected genera:
Tribe Unassigned
Auth.: Cadena-Castañeda, 2025 - Madagascar & Indian Ocean islands:
;tribe Guntheritettigini
;tribe Tumbrinckitettigini
;Subfamily Hildegardiinae - monogeneric
  1. Hildegardia Günther, 1974

    Subfamily Lophotettiginae

Auth.: Hancock, 1909; distribution S. America, all genera:
  1. Lophotettix Hancock, 1909
  2. Phelene Bolívar, 1906

    Subfamily [Metrodorinae]

Auth.: Bolívar, 1887; selected genera:
;Tribe Amorphopini
;Tribe Cleostratini
;Tribe Clinophaestini
;Tribe Miriatrini
;Tribe Metrodorini
;Tribe Ophiotettigini
Tribe Unassigned
Auth.: Hancock, 1907
Tribe Scelimenini Hancock, 1907; selected genera:
incertae sedis
Auth.: Serville, 1838
Tribe Dinotettigini Günther, 1979
Tribe Tetrigini Serville, 1838
Tribe unassigned:
Auth.: Bolívar, 1887
Tripetalocerinae was originally described by Bolívar in 1887 to gather all the Tetrigidae genera of the old world with widened antennae. This subfamily today includes only two species in two genera - Tripetalocera from India and Borneo and Tripetaloceroides from Vietnam and PR China. Members of the subfamily are characteristic within Tetrigidae by massive antennae built up of only eight segments. Until recently, the subfamily included two tribes - Tripetalocerini and Clinophaestini, but the later was moved to the subfamily Metrodorinae due to similarity to Ophiotettigini.

Criotettigini

Auth. Kevan, 1966
Auth. Kevan, 1966
  1. †Archaeotetrix
  2. Bolotettix
  3. Coptotettix
  4. Cyphotettix
  5. †Eozaentetrix
  6. Euloxilobus
  7. Parahirrius
  8. Paramphinotus
  9. Peronotettix
  10. Phaesticus
  11. Probolotettix
  12. †Prototetrix
  13. Syzygotettix
  14. ''Tettitelum''