Gryllacrididae

Blanchard, 1845

raspy crickets, leaf-rolling crickets

Genus Guides

Camptonotus(leaf-rolling crickets)

is a of non-jumping orthopterans in the suborder Ensifera, commonly known as raspy crickets or leaf-rolling crickets. The family occurs worldwide and contains over 600 across more than 90 , organized into two : Gryllacridinae and Hyperbaeninae. Members are distinguished by their unique ability to produce silk independently from other insects, which they use to construct shelters from folded leaves or to seal burrows in soil, sand, or wood. Historically, the family was broadly defined to include Stenopelmatidae and Rhaphidophoridae, which are now recognized as separate families.

Camptonotus carolinensis by (c) Bea Leiderman, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Bea Leiderman. Used under a CC-BY license.

Camptonotus carolinensis by no rights reserved, uploaded by Zygy. Used under a CC0 license.

Gryllacrididae by (c) Peter T. Rühr, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Peter T. Rühr. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Gryllacrididae: //ɡrɪˌlækrɪˈdɪdiː//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Distinguished from other Ensifera by the combination of non-jumping locomotion, silk production from labial glands, and typically wingless condition. Differs from Rhaphidophoridae (camel crickets) and Stenopelmatidae (Jerusalem crickets) by silk-producing capability and nest-building . Separated from Tettigoniidae (katydids) by the absence of jumping hind legs and presence of silk glands. Some can be identified by burrow construction: Bothriogryllacris turris projects burrows above ground with soil-caps, while B. brevicauda uses pebbles sewn with silk to cover burrow entrances.

Images

Appearance

Most are wingless with elongated, cylindrical bodies. Some species are fully winged () while others are wingless. The silk-producing glands are located in the mouthparts, an evolutionary innovation independent from other silk-producing insects. Body size and coloration vary considerably among species, with some exhibiting color including yellow, pink, and green forms.

Habitat

Diverse worldwide including tropical and temperate forests, arid central Australian regions, montane rainforests, and urban environments. occupy ground-dwelling, foliage-dwelling, and . Some species construct vertical cylindrical burrows in soil; others rest in silk-sewn leaf shelters during daytime. The Pterapotrechus salomonoides has established in urbanized areas of New Zealand.

Distribution

Worldwide distribution. Documented from Middle Europe, West-Central Tropical Africa, East Tropical Africa, South Tropical Africa, Southern Africa, Australia, China, Ecuador, Colombia, and New Zealand (introduced). The Triaenogryllacris occurs in Andean forests of Ecuador and Colombia. Bothriogryllacris are restricted to arid central Australia.

Seasonality

Bothriogryllacris turris has one per year, with hatching in late summer or autumn and death the following summer. Activity is primarily across the .

Diet

Variable by . Bothriogryllacris species are granivorous, subsisting almost entirely on seeds of ephemeral grasses. Pterapotrechus salomonoides is and predatory, consuming including tree wētā and . General feeding habits for most species are poorly documented.

Life Cycle

Bothriogryllacris turris exhibits with one per year. Juveniles of nest-building construct shelters within days of hatching. Some high-altitude may require two years to complete development. Embryonic development patterns vary; some species complete development by fall and enter before winter dormancy.

Behavior

Strictly activity pattern. Juveniles and construct and maintain individual nests or shelters, showing nest-site fidelity comparable to social insects. Individuals recognize their own nests through chemical cues. Nest construction include: folding leaves and sewing edges with silk to create daytime shelters; excavating vertical burrows in soil; sealing burrow entrances with soil-caps or pebbles secured with silk. Silk production is used for shelter construction, burrow reinforcement, and avoidance. Homing ability to return to nests is present but does not appear to rely on long-distance chemical detection.

Ecological Role

Granivorous function as seed in arid grassland . Predatory species such as Pterapotrechus salomonoides may impact native as . Silk-producing creates microhabitat structures that may influence local .

Human Relevance

Some are agricultural pests: Pterapotrechus salomonoides threatens native New Zealand including tree wētā. The has been used in behavioral research on nest recognition and homing. Silk production represents with silk, with potential biomaterial interest due to similar protein structure. Some species serve as prey for sphecid including Sphex ichneumoneus and Sphex vestitus.

Similar Taxa

RhaphidophoridaeHistorically included in ; distinguished by absence of silk production and different nesting
StenopelmatidaeFormerly placed in ; separated based on morphological and behavioral differences, lacks silk glands
TettigoniidaeShares Ensifera suborder but differs in jumping hind legs, , and absence of silk production
AnostostomatidaeFormerly included now transferred; distinguished by different and

Misconceptions

The 'leaf-rolling crickets' may suggest relationship with true crickets (Gryllidae), but belongs to a different superfamily () and is more closely related to katydids and wētā. The 'winged wētā' Pterapotrechus salomonoides is frequently misidentified as a true wētā (Anostostomatidae) in New Zealand, but belongs to Gryllacrididae. (Anabrus simplex) are not crickets but shieldbacked katydids (Tettigoniidae), despite historical taxonomic confusion with Gryllacrididae.

More Details

Silk Evolution

evolved silk production independently from other insects. Their silk proteins show convergent features with (Bombyx mori) silk, including long repetitive proteins with extended beta-sheet structure. This represents a remarkable case of in protein biochemistry.

Taxonomic History

The underwent major redefinition, with Stenopelmatidae, Rhaphidophoridae, and other groups removed. Current classification recognizes two : Gryllacridinae (over 90 , over 600 ) and Hyperbaeninae. The genus Lezina was transferred to Anostostomatidae.

Chromosomal Diversity

Australian show three distinct karyotype clusters: 2n=26 female/25 male; reduced numbers from Robertsonian fusions; and 2n=14-10 female with reduced metacentrics. Karyotype evolution occurs through Robertsonian fusion, heterochromatin alterations, and structural rearrangements.

Invasive Potential

Pterapotrechus salomonoides, introduced to New Zealand around 1990, has expanded from Auckland to Northland, Coromandel Peninsula, and Raglan over 30 years. in Auckland has at least quintupled in 12 years, with densities exceeding those in native Australian range.