Gryllita
Hebard, 1935
Gryllita is a of in the , Gryllinae, established by Hebard in 1935. The genus contains at least 26 described , with most described by Otte & Perez-Gelabert in 2009. Species are distributed in the southwestern United States and Mexico, with some Caribbean records. The species is Gryllita arizonae, commonly known as the Arizona cricket.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Gryllita: //ɡrɪlˈliːtə//
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Distribution
Southwestern United States (Arizona, New Mexico) and Mexico. Caribbean records include Jamaica. Distribution data is sparse; most records are from the localities of described .
Similar Taxa
- AchetaSimilar general ; Gryllita are distinguished by genitalic characters and subtle structural differences in male and epiphallus, requiring examination of for reliable identification.
- GryllusLarger and more widespread ; Gryllita are generally smaller with more restricted distributions and differ in male structure.
More Details
Taxonomic history
The was erected by Morgan Hebard in 1935 with Gryllita arizonae as the . A major revision by Otte & Perez-Gelabert in 2009 added numerous species from the Caribbean and Mexico, more than doubling the genus size. Recent additions include G. doderoae and G. mezai described by Gorochov & Izerskiy in 2019.
Observation status
Despite 26 described , iNaturalist records only 22 observations for the entire , indicating Gryllita are rarely encountered or underreported by naturalists. This may reflect habits, cryptic coloration, or restricted .