Ensifera

Distinguished from Caelifera by antennae that are longer than the body (filiform and multi-segmented) versus short, stout antennae in grasshoppers. Tympanal organs located on the foretibiae rather than on the first abdominal segment. Hind legs adapted for jumping but generally more slender than in Caelifera. Many species have enlarged hind wings for flight, though some lineages are secondarily flightless.

Diverse habitats including forests, grasslands, caves, burrows, sand dunes, and freshwater margins. Many species occupy vegetation strata from ground level to forest canopy. Some lineages are specialized for subterranean or fossorial existence.

Worldwide distribution across all continents except Antarctica. Major radiations in tropical and temperate regions, with significant diversity in Australia (wetas), New Zealand, South Africa, and Southeast Asia.

Highly variable: includes herbivory, omnivory, and predation. Many katydids (Tettigoniidae) are folivorous or omnivorous. Some lineages, such as certain Listroscelidinae, are specialized predators with enlarged mandibles for capturing insect prey. Crickets (Gryllidae) are generally omnivorous or detritivorous.

Acoustic communication is a defining feature: males produce species-specific calling songs through stridulation (rubbing specialized forewing structures together) to attract females. Most species are nocturnal, with activity patterns cued by temperature and light intensity. Stridulation rate and intensity correlate with temperature; threshold for song initiation is higher in bright light than in darkness. Many species exhibit complex courtship behaviors and territorial defense. Some lineages display threat postures when disturbed.

Significant consumers of plant biomass in many ecosystems; some species function as predators controlling insect populations. Acoustic signaling makes them important subjects for studies of sexual selection and sensory ecology. Serve as prey for vertebrates and invertebrates. Some species contribute to nutrient cycling through detritivory.

Important model organisms for neurobiological research, particularly studies of hearing, acoustic communication, and sensory processing. Some species are agricultural pests; others are consumed as food in various cultures. Crickets are widely used in laboratory research and as pet food.

• CaeliferaThe other suborder of Orthoptera; distinguished by short antennae, tympanal organs on the abdomen, and generally more robust hind legs adapted for jumping.

• BugGuide
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• The Origin of Grasshoppers, Katydids, and Crickets: A New Study Resolves the Evolutionary Tree of the Orthoptera
• Tuesday Teaser | Beetles In The Bush
• ID Challenge #2 | Beetles In The Bush
• ID Challenge #2 | Beetles In The Bush
• Local prothoracic auditory neurons in Ensifera
• The Behavior of Stridulation in Orthoptera Ensifera
• A new species of Dune Cricket from China (Orthoptera: Ensifera: Schizodactylidae)
• New Pseudophyllinae from the Lesser Antilles (Orthoptera: Ensifera: Tettigoniidae)
• Tale's Blade: Understanding the Evolutionary Features of the Oviposition Behavior Based on Tettigoniidae (Insecta, Orthoptera, Ensifera) Ovipositor Morphology
• Distribusi dan Preferensi Habitat Udang Air Tawar Caridina ensifera Schenkel, 1902 pada Dua Inlet Danau Poso, Sulawesi Tengah