Tettigoniidae

Krauss, 1902

katydids, bush crickets, long-horned grasshoppers

Subfamily Guides

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is a large of orthopteran insects containing over 8,000 described , commonly known as katydids in North America and bush crickets in the United Kingdom. The family is the only extant member of the superfamily within the suborder Ensifera. Members are characterized by extremely long, thread-like that often exceed body length, distinguishing them from true grasshoppers. The family exhibits remarkable diversity in size, ranging from 5 mm to 130 mm, and occupies varied from tropical rainforests to temperate grasslands across all continents except Antarctica.

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Pronunciation

How to pronounce Tettigoniidae: //ˌtɛtɪˈɡoʊni.aɪdiː//

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

Identification

is distinguished from other Orthoptera primarily by length: members possess filamentous antennae that typically equal or exceed body length, in contrast to the short, thickened antennae of Acrididae (true grasshoppers). The is further characterized by enlarged hind adapted for jumping, leathery forewings (tegmina) that cover membranous hindwings when at rest, and sound-producing structures (stridulatory files) on the forewings in males. Many exhibit leaf mimicry in body shape and coloration. The pronotum varies from saddle-shaped to dramatically extended, with some (e.g., Conocephalinae) bearing distinctive cone-shaped or hook-shaped projections.

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Habitat

occupies diverse terrestrial spanning tropical, subtropical, and temperate zones. The majority of inhabit tropical forests, particularly in the Amazon basin where over 2,000 species occur. Smaller species are associated with drier, more stressful environments including grasslands, meadows, and scrub habitats. Arboreal species predominate, with many species occupying tree and shrubs, though ground-dwelling forms exist. Wetland and riparian habitats support abundant of meadow katydids ( Conocephalinae).

Distribution

The occurs on every continent except Antarctica, with highest diversity concentrated in tropical regions. The Amazon basin harbors exceptional . North America supports approximately 255 . The family has been documented across Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and the Americas, with phylogenetic evidence indicating origins in both Gondwanan and Laurasian landmasses. Specific regional radiations include the Nedubini in North America, which represents the most basal lineage of the family, estimated to have diverged approximately 175 million years ago.

Seasonality

Most are and active during warmer months, with peak activity in summer and early fall in temperate regions. Males produce strident mating calls primarily during the breeding season. In tropical regions, activity patterns may extend throughout the year. Some temperate species overwinter as , with nymphs emerging in spring.

Diet

The exhibits diverse feeding strategies. Most are primarily phytophagous, consuming leaves, flowers, bark, and seeds. Many species are opportunistically or facultatively predatory, feeding on other insects, snails, and small vertebrates. Some species are exclusively predatory. The Conocephalinae includes both seed-feeding and active . Females of some species increase to obtain protein required for development. correlates with diet: seed-feeding species possess robust, crushing mandibles, while predatory species have sharper, more pointed mouthparts.

Life Cycle

Development is hemimetabolous. are typically oval and deposited in rows on vegetation or within plant tissue using a well-developed ovipositor; ovipositor (sickle-shaped versus uniformly long) determines egg placement strategy. Nymphs generally resemble wingless , though some exhibit protective mimicry of ants, spiders, or flowers during early instars, reverting to adult appearance once large enough to escape . Typically 5 occur before adulthood. Males produce species-specific calling songs using forewing stridulation to attract females.

Behavior

Males produce continuous trilling songs by rubbing forewing stridulatory files against plectra; song characteristics (frequency, pulse rate) vary with ambient temperature and are -specific. Some species exhibit temperature-dependent chirp rates that can be used to estimate ambient temperature. Females of some species also stridulate. Males provide in the form of spermatophylaxes—protein-rich gelatinous masses attached to that females consume during mating, reducing female remating probability and increasing male paternity. roosting postures maximize , with many species adopting positions that resemble dead leaves. When disturbed, some species expose brightly colored hindwings or eyespot patterns to startle .

Ecological Role

As primary consumers, phytophagous contribute to nutrient cycling and plant conversion; one study documented conversion of 16% of rush biomass into biomass. Seed by some species reduces plant reproductive output by 30–50%. As , katydids regulate of herbivorous insects including leafhoppers and planthoppers. The serves as prey for birds, mammals, reptiles, and other arthropods. Some species are significant agricultural pests, notably Sexava nubila on oil palm and coconut in Southeast Asia, and Segestes species on karuka (Pandanus julianettii) in New Guinea.

Human Relevance

has mixed economic and cultural significance. Some damage commercial crops, though densities are typically too low for major economic impact. The fork-tailed bush katydid (Scudderia furcata) is a documented pest in California citrus. Conversely, Ruspolia differens (nsenene) is harvested and consumed as food in Uganda and neighboring regions. The is culturally significant through the onomatopoeic "," derived from the distinctive three-pulsed call of Pterophylla camellifolia. Katydids are subjects of ecological research, particularly regarding , evolution, and . Some species are kept as pets or studied in educational contexts.

Similar Taxa

  • AcrididaeTrue grasshoppers share enlarged hind and general body plan, but possess short, thickened never exceeding body length, and lack the stridulatory file structure on forewings found in .
  • GryllidaeCrickets share long and belong to Ensifera, but typically have more cylindrical bodies, different ovipositor , and produce sound by rubbing forewings together in a different structural configuration; field identification requires examination of tibial spination and ovipositor shape.
  • StenopelmatidaeJerusalem crickets are wingless, ground-dwelling, and possess adaptations; they lack the arboreal habits, fully developed wings, and extremely long typical of most .

More Details

Acoustic communication

The Supersonus produces the highest frequency sound of any known animal, reaching 150 kHz, far above human hearing range (0–20 kHz). Temperature-dependent chirp rates have been quantified for North American , with the formula: chirps in 15 seconds plus 37 equals temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.

Reproductive investment

The tuberous bush Platycleis affinis possesses the largest relative to body mass (14%) of any recorded animal, an enabling rapid remating. Males tradeoffs between size (attracting females) and mating frequency.

Taxonomic complexity

The Tettigoniinae (shield-back katydids) is ; molecular has revealed the North American Nedubini represents the most basal lineage of the entire , warranting potential elevation to subfamily rank. The Copiphorinae have been reclassified as tribe Copiphorini within Conocephalinae.

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