Tettigonioidea

Definition

A superfamily of orthopteran insects in the suborder Ensifera, containing the single extant family Tettigoniidae (katydids or bush crickets). The group is characterized by extremely long, thread-like antennae—often exceeding body length—and tympanal hearing organs located on the fore tibiae. Tettigonioidea represents one of the two major superfamilies of Ensifera, contrasting with Grylloidea (crickets), and comprises more than 8,000 described species of primarily nocturnal, phytophagous or predatory insects.

Etymology

From Tettigonia, the type genus of katydids (Latinized from Greek tettix, tettigon-, cicada or small chirping insect), + -oidea (superfamily suffix).

Example

The superfamily Tettigonioidea encompasses all katydids, including the meadow katydid genus Conocephalus and the giant wetas of New Zealand (genus Deinacrida), which represent some of the heaviest insects in the world.

Related Terms

• Ensifera
• Tettigoniidae
• katydid
• Grylloidea
• Caelifera
• Tympanum

Usage Notes

Tettigonioidea is sometimes misspelled 'Tettigonioidea' in older literature; the accepted spelling follows the stem Tettigon-. The superfamily is occasionally expanded to include extinct families (e.g., Haglidae, Prophalangopsidae) in paleontological contexts, but in modern classifications only Tettigoniidae is extant. Contrast with Grylloidea: both share Ensifera traits (long antennae, tibial tympana), but crickets have three tarsal segments versus four in katydids, and different stridulatory mechanisms.