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Orthoptera; Fossil range: 359–0 Ma PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N Carboniferous–Recent
	Patanga japonica
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia;
Phylum:	Arthropoda;
Class:	Insecta;
Subclass:	Pterygota;
Infraclass:	Neoptera;
(unranked):	Exopterygota;
Superorder:	Orthopteroidea;
Order:	Orthoptera; Latreille, 1793
Extant suborders and superfamilies
	Suborder Ensifera Grylloidea; Hagloidea; Rhaphidophoroidea; Schizodactyloidea; Stenopelmatoidea; Tettigonioidea; Suborder Caelifera Acridoidea; Eumastacoidea; Pneumoroidea; Pyrgomorphoidea; Tanaoceroidea; Tetrigoidea; Tridactyloidea; Trigonopterygoidea;

The Orthoptera are an order of insects with paurometabolous or incomplete metamorphosis, including the grasshoppers, crickets and locusts. Many insects in this order produce sound (known as a "stridulation") by rubbing their wings against each other or their legs, the wings or legs containing rows of corrugated bumps. The tympanum or ear is located in the front tibia in crickets, mole crickets, and katydids, and on the first abdominal segment in the grasshoppers and locusts.^[1] These organisms use vibrations to locate other individuals.

Grasshoppers are able to fold their wings, placing them in the group Neoptera.

[edit] Characteristics

Orthopterans have a generally cylindrical body, with hind legs elongated for jumping. They have mandibulate mouthparts and large compound eyes, and may or may not have ocelli, depending on the species. The antennae have multiple joints, and are of variable length.^[1]

The first and third segments of the thorax are enlarged, while the second segment is much shorter. They have two pairs of wings, which are held overlapping the abdomen at rest. The forewings, or tegmina, are narrower than the hind wings and hardened at the base, while the hind wing is membranous, with straight veins and numerous cross-veins. At rest, the hingwings are held folded fan-like under the forewings. The final two to three segments of the abdomen are reduced, an have single-segmented cerci.^[1]

[edit] Life cycle

Orthopteroid species have a paurometabolous life cycle or gradual metamorphosis. The use of sound is generally crucial in courtship, and most species have distinct songs. Most grasshoppers lay their eggs in the ground or on vegetation. The eggs hatch and the young nymphs resemble adults but lack wings and at this stage are often called hoppers. They may often also have a radically different coloration from the adults. Through successive moults the nymphs develop wings until their final moult into a mature adult with fully developed wings.^[1]

The number of moults varies between species; growth is also very variable and may take a few weeks to some months depending on food availability and weather conditions.

[edit] Orthoptera as food

The Orthoptera are the only insects considered kosher in Judaism. (Leviticus 11:22) Although the Bible may be read as stating that all Orthoptera are kosher except those, such as the mole cricket, that do not jump.

[edit] Classification

Suborder Ensifera
- Superfamily Hagloidea
  - Haglidae†
  - Hagloedischiidae†
  - Prophalangopsidae
  - Tuphellidae†
- Superfamily Phasmomimoidea†
  - Phasmomimidae†
- Superfamily Rhaphidophoroidea
  - Rhaphidophoridae — camel crickets, cave crickets, cave wetas
- Superfamily Schizodactyloidea
  - Schizodactylidae — dune crickets
- Superfamily Stenopelmatoidea
  - Anostostomatidae — wetas, king crickets
  - Cooloolidae
  - Gryllacrididae — leaf-rolling crickets
  - Stenopelmatidae — Jerusalem crickets
- Superfamily Tettigonioidea
  - Haglotettigoniidae†
  - Tettigoniidae — katydids / bush crickets
Suborder Caelifera — grasshoppers, locusts

Teratodus monticollis Hooded Grasshopper
- Infraorder Acrididea
  - Superfamily Acridoidea
    - Acrididae — grasshoppers, locusts
    - Charilaidae
    - Dericorythidae
    - Lathiceridae
    - Lentulidae
    - Lithidiidae
    - Ommexechidae
    - Pamphagidae — toad grasshoppers
    - Pyrgacrididae
    - Romaleidae
    - Tristiridae
  - Superfamily Eumastacoidea

Proscopiid from the Andes of Peru

***Superfamily Locustopsoidea†

- - - Araripelocustidae†
    - Bouretidae†
    - Eolocustopsidae†
    - Locustavidae†
    - Locustopsidae†
  - Superfamily Pneumoroidea
    - Pneumoridae — bladder grasshoppers
  - Superfamily Pyrgomorphoidea
    - Pyrgomorphidae — gaudy grasshoppers
  - Superfamily Tanaoceroidea
    - Tanaoceridae
  - Superfamily Tetrigoidea
    - Tetrigidae — grouse locusts
  - Superfamily Trigonopterygoidea
    - Trigonopterygidae
    - Xyronotidae
- Infraorder Tridactylidea
  - Superfamily Dzhajloutshelloidea†
    - Dzhajloutshellidae†
  - Superfamily Regiatoidea†
    - Regiatidae†
  - Superfamily Tridactyloidea
    - Cylindrachetidae
    - Rhipipterygidae
    - Tridactylidae — pygmy mole crickets

[edit] See also

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Hoell, H.V., Doyen, J.T. & Purcell, A.H. (1998). Introduction to Insect Biology and Diversity, 2nd ed.. Oxford University Press. pp. 392–394. ISBN 0-19-510033-6.

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Orthoptera

[IIBD-0] Hoell, H.V., Doyen, J.T. & Purcell, A.H. (1998). Introduction to Insect Biology and Diversity, 2nd ed.. Oxford University Press. pp. 392–394. ISBN 0-19-510033-6.

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