Listroscelidinae

Listroscelidinae can be distinguished from other tettigoniid subfamilies by spiny body armature, enlarged and often asymmetrical mandibles adapted for predation, and relatively small, roundish, high-set eyes. Members lack the flattened faces of cone-headed katydids (Conocephalinae) and the more gracile build of many Tettigoniinae. The auditory spiracle is present and functional, with size correlating to hearing sensitivity. Preserved specimens typically fade from green to yellow-brown, potentially complicating field identification based on coloration alone.

Primarily forested habitats, with greatest diversity in the Atlantic Forest biome of Brazil. Australian representatives occur in north-eastern Queensland rainforests. Some localities are noted as threatened by repeated prescribed burning.

Americas (primarily South and Central America), Madagascar, and Australia. In South America, concentrated in the Atlantic Forest biome of southeastern and northeastern Brazil. Australian species occur in Queensland.

Predatory on other insects. Members possess enlarged, heavily sclerotized mandibles with sharp, well-defined dentes and incisors adapted for carnivory.

Males produce acoustic calls for mate attraction; hearing sensitivity varies with body size and spiracle dimensions, with best frequency near 16 kHz. Some species exhibit threat displays when disturbed. Nocturnal activity pattern inferred from small eye size.

Predatory katydids that function as insectivores in forest ecosystems. Their spiny morphology and predatory habits suggest they occupy a distinct trophic niche from herbivorous katydids.

Members of the genus Neobarrettia, particularly N. spinosa, are known for formidable mandibles capable of drawing blood if handled carelessly. Some species are subjects of ecological research on acoustic communication and sexual selection.

• Tettigoniinae (shield-backed katydids)Similar body form and brown coloration in preserved specimens, but Tettigoniinae lack the enlarged predatory mandibles and spiny armature of Listroscelidinae; many are omnivorous rather than strictly predatory
• Conocephalinae (cone-headed katydids)Both subfamilies occur in similar habitats, but Conocephalinae have distinctly flattened faces and cone-shaped heads, with more gracile bodies and typically herbivorous or omnivorous diets
• Stenopelmatoidea (king crickets, Jerusalem crickets)Similar robust build and large mandibles create superficial resemblance, but Stenopelmatoidea have extremely long antennae relative to body, different wing reduction patterns, and are not closely related within Orthoptera

• predatory katydids
• spiny katydids
• acoustic communication
• Atlantic Forest
• Australia
• Madagascar
• sexual selection
• hearing sensitivity
• mandible asymmetry

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• ID Challenge #2 | Beetles In The Bush
• The Austral Predator Katydid—new species of Megatympanon Piza, 1958 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Listroscelidinae: Terpandrini) from the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest
• Studies in Australian Tettigoniidae: New genera and species from North Queensland (Tettigoniidae; Conocephalinae; Armadillagraeciini trib. nov. and Agraeciini; Listroscelidinae; Requenini)
• The Blue Legged Predatory Katydid—a new species of Listroscelis Serville, 1883 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Listroscelidinae: Listroscelidini) from the Atlantic Rainforest
• New species of Hamayulus Fialho, Chamorro-Rengifo & Lopes-Andrade, 2014 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Listroscelidinae: Hamayulini) from the Northeastern Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest
• Do large bushcrickets have more sensitive ears? Natural variation in hearing thresholds within populations of the bushcricket Requena verticalis (Listroscelidinae: Tettigoniidae)