Grasshopper

Superfamily: Proscopioidea

Characteristics

The Caelifera have antennae that are shorter than the body, and short ovipositors. Those species that make easily heard noises usually do so by rubbing the hind femurs against the forewings or abdomen, or by snapping the wings in flight. Tympana, if present, are on the sides of the first abdominal segment. The front femora are long and strong, fitted for leaping. Generally they are winged, but hind wings are membranous while front wings (tegmina) are coriaceous and unfitted for flying. Females are normally larger than males, with short ovipositors.

Related Topics:
Tympana - Tegmina - Coriaceous - Ovipositor

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They are easily confused with the other sub-order of Orthoptera, Ensifera. In fact up to few years ago both sub-orders were classified together in the order of Orthoptera, but are different in many aspects, such as the number of segments in their antennae and ovipositor. Ensiferans have antennae with at least 30 segments, and caeliferans have less. In evolutionary terms, the split between the Caelifera and the Ensifera is not more recent than the Permo-Triassic boundary (Zeuner 1939).

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Taxonomically, Borror and White (1970) note that the hind femora are usually enlarged, tarsi have three segments or less, antennae are relatively short, tympana are usually present on the sides fo the first abdomenal segment, and the ovipositor is short. Taxonomic descriptions of the families are more specific.

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