Scaly-crickets
Guides
Cycloptilum
Common Scaly Crickets
Cycloptilum is a genus of scaly crickets in the family Mogoplistidae, established by Scudder in 1869. The genus contains at least 50 described species distributed across the Americas, from the southeastern United States through the Caribbean to South America. These small crickets are characterized by distinctive scale-like body covering. The genus was historically placed in Gryllidae but is now classified in Mogoplistidae.
Hoplosphyrum
scaly crickets
Hoplosphyrum is a genus of scaly crickets comprising approximately six described species. Members of this genus are distributed across Africa and the Americas, with records from Mexico, the southwestern United States, and southern South America. The genus was established by Rehn & Hebard in 1912 and belongs to the family Mogoplistidae, a group characterized by minute crickets with distinctive scale-like body covering.
Mogoplistidae
Scaly Crickets and Allies
Mogoplistidae is a family of scaly crickets within the superfamily Grylloidea, comprising over 370 species in approximately 30 genera worldwide. The family is considered monophyletic and sister to the true crickets (Gryllidae). Members are distinguished by scales covering the abdomen and parts of the thorax, resembling those of Lepidoptera. The family includes three subfamilies: Mogoplistinae, Malgasiinae (restricted to Madagascar and Indian Ocean islands), and the extinct †Protomogoplistinae known from Burmese amber.
OrthopteraGrylloideascaly-cricketscoastalbeach-specialistdriftwood-dependentrare-speciesUK-protected-speciesMediterraneanAtlantic-coastMadagascar-endemicBurmese-amber-fossilscale-coveringLepidoptera-like-scalesomnivorousnocturnallong-ovipositoregg-development-one-yearshingle-habitatcobble-beachesstrandline-invertebrateconservation-concernbeach-cleaning-threatdriftwood-burning-threat