Tetrigidae

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Family of grasshoppers

title: "Tetrigidae" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["tetrigidae", "orthoptera-families", "extant-triassic-first-appearances"] description: "Family of grasshoppers" topic_path: "general/tetrigidae" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetrigidae" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Family of grasshoppers ::

| image = Tetrix.spec.2159.jpg | image_caption = Tetrix species | taxon = Tetrigidae | authority =Rambur, 1838 | subdivision_ranks = Subfamilies | subdivision =

  1. Batrachideinae
  2. Cladonotinae
  3. Guntheritettiginae
  4. Hildegardiinae
  5. Lophotettiginae
  6. Metrodorinae
  7. Scelimeninae (incorporating Discotettiginae)
  8. Tetriginae
  9. Tripetalocerinae

Tetrigidae is an ancient family in the order Orthoptera, which also includes similar families such as crickets, grasshoppers, and their allies. Species within the Tetrigidae are variously called groundhoppers, pygmy grasshoppers, pygmy devils or (mostly historical) "grouse locusts".

Diagnostic characteristics

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/Tetrigidae_Lateral_aspect_2012_01_28_1429.JPG" caption="coxa]]."] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8c/Tetrigidae_Dorsal_aspect_2012_01_28_1427.jpg" caption="femur]], and the correspondingly massive pulley-like femoro-tibial joint, similar to the anatomy of the [[Tridactylidae]]."] ::

Tetrigidae are typically less than 20 mm in length and are recognizable by a long pronotum. This pronotum extends over the length of the abdomen, sometimes to the tip of the wings, and ends in a point. In other Orthoptera, the pronotum is short and covers neither the abdomen nor the wings. Tetrigidae are generally cryptic in coloration. Some species have enlarged pronota that mimic leaves, stones or twigs.

Other characteristics pygmy grasshoppers exhibit in comparison to other Orthoptera families are the lack of an arolium between the claws, the first thoracic sternite being modified into collar-like structure called sternomentum, a tarsal formula of 2-2-3, scaly fore -wings, and developed hindwings.{{cite journal |last1=Muhammad |first1=Amira Aqilah |last2=Tan |first2=Ming Kai |last3=Abdullah |first3=Nurul Ashikin |last4=Azirun |first4=Mohammad Sofian |last5=Bhaskar |first5=Dhaneesh |last6=Skejo |first6=Josip |date=2018-09-25 |title=An annotated catalogue of the pygmy grasshoppers of the tribe Scelimenini Bolívar, 1887 (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae) with two new Scelimena species from the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra

|journal=Zootaxa |volume=4485 |issue=1 |pages=1–70 |doi=10.11646/zootaxa.4485.1.1 |pmid=30313773|s2cid=52975589 |issn=1175-5334}}

General biology

In temperate regions, Tetrigidae are generally found along streams and ponds, where they feed on algae and diatoms. The North American species Paratettix aztecus and Paratettix mexicanus, for example, depend on aquatic primary production for between 80% and 100% of their diet. Detritus, moss and fungal hyphae also dominates the diet in many species. Riparian species are capable of swimming on the surface of the water, and readily leap into the water when alarmed Some species in the tribe Scelimenini are fully aquatic and capable of swimming underwater.

The highest biodiversity of Tetrigidae is found in tropical forests. Some tropical species are arboreal and live among mosses and lichens in tree buttresses or in the canopy, while others live on the forest floor.

Like other Orthoptera, Tetrigidae have a hemimetabolous development, in which eggs hatch into nymphs. Unlike other temperate Orthoptera, however, temperate Tetrigidae generally overwinter as adults.

Some subfamilies within the Tetrigidae, such as the Batrachideinae, are sometimes elevated to family rank besides the Tetrigidae.

Arulenus miae is a pygmy grasshopper species from the tropical mountainous rainforests of the Philippines. The species was firstly discovered in Facebook post.

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bf/TetrigidAlgaeS.jpg" caption="''Paratettix aztecus'' eating algae"] ::

Etymology

Origin of the name of the family is not completely clear as there are different sources on its etymology. The name may be derived from Latin tetricus or taetricus, meaning harsh, sour, severe. The name may also originate from the earlier name 'Tettigidae', based on Tettix (synonym of Tetrix), which was preoccupied by Tettigidae (synonym of Cicadidae). Because of the preoccupation by the cicadas' family name, the second 't' in 'tt' was changed into 'r', resulting in the word Tetrigidae.

Subfamilies, tribes and selected genera

More than 2,000 species have been described; according to the Orthoptera Species File the following tribes are included:

Subfamily [[Batrachideinae]]

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/Pygmy_grasshopper_at_a_future_construction_site_in_BSD_(W-Java)_(5103566083).jpg" caption="''Saussurella cornuta''"] ::

Auth.: Bolívar, 1887; selected genera:

Subfamily [[Cladonotinae]]

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/09/Grouse_Locust_(Potua_sp.)_(23289516379).jpg" caption="''Potua morbillosa'' (Borneo)"] ::

Auth.: Bolívar, 1887; selected genera:

Tribe Cladonotini Bolívar, 1887

Tribe Choriphyllini Cadena-Castañeda & Silva, 2019

  1. Choriphyllum Serville, 1838
  2. Phyllotettix Hancock, 1902

Tribe Valalyllini Deranja, Kasalo, Adžić, Franjević & Skejo, 2022

  1. Lepocranus Devriese, 1991
  2. Valalyllum Deranja, Kasalo, Adžić, Franjević & Skejo, 2022

Tribe Xerophyllini Günther, 1979 SE Asia - selected genera:

Tribe Unassigned

Subfamily [[Guntheritettiginae]]

Auth.: Cadena-Castañeda, 2025 - Madagascar & Indian Ocean islands: ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/51/Green_Grouse_locust_(Holocerus_taurus)_with_red_mites,_Vohimana_reserve,Madagascar(12092757745).jpg" caption="''[[Holocerus]]'' (with red mites, Madagascar)"] ::

;tribe Guntheritettigini

;Subfamily Hildegardiinae - monogeneric

  1. Hildegardia Günther, 1974

Subfamily Lophotettiginae

Auth.: Hancock, 1909; distribution S. America, all genera:

  1. Lophotettix Hancock, 1909
  2. Phelene Bolívar, 1906

Subfamily [[Metrodorinae]]

Auth.: Bolívar, 1887; selected genera: ;Tribe Amorphopini

;Tribe Cleostratini ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Grouse_Locust_(Rostella_phyllocera_processus)_(23449164835).jpg" caption="''Rostella phyllocera'' (Borneo)"] ::

;Tribe Clinophaestini

;Tribe Miriatrini (monotypic)

;Tribe Metrodorini

;Tribe Ophiotettigini

Tribe Unassigned

Subfamily [[Scelimeninae]]

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f9/Spiky_Grouse_Locust_(Discotettix_belzebuth)_(6747966773).jpg" caption="''Discotettix belzebuth'' (Scelimeninae)"] ::

Auth.: Hancock, 1907 Tribe Scelimenini Hancock, 1907; selected genera:

Subfamily [[Tetriginae]]

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7c/Paratettix_sp_6925.jpg" caption="''Paratettix'' sp."] ::

Auth.: Serville, 1838 Tribe Dinotettigini Günther, 1979

Tribe Tetrigini Serville, 1838

Tribe unassigned:

Subfamily [[Tripetalocerinae]]

Auth.: Bolívar, 1887 ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1f/Grouse_Locusts_(Tripetalocera_ferruginea)mating(22524858843).jpg" caption="pages=525–580, figures 104–124}}"] ::

Subfamily unassigned

Criotettigini

Auth. Kevan, 1966

Thoradontini

Auth. Kevan, 1966

Subfamily and tribe unassigned

  1. †Archaeotetrix
  2. Bolotettix
  3. Coptotettix
  4. Cyphotettix
  5. †Eozaentetrix
  6. Euloxilobus
  7. Parahirrius
  8. Paramphinotus
  9. Peronotettix
  10. Phaesticus (synonym Flatocerus )
  11. Probolotettix
  12. †Prototetrix
  13. Syzygotettix
  14. Tettitelum

References

References

  1. Rambur (1838) ''Faune entomologique de l'Andalousie'' 2:64
  2. (2015-03-09). "300 million years of diversification: elucidating the patterns of orthopteran evolution based on comprehensive taxon and gene sampling". Cladistics.
  3. Ragge DR. (1965). "Grasshoppers, Crickets & Cockroaches of the British Isles". F Warne & Co, London.
  4. Borror DJ, Tripplehorn CA, Johnson NF (1989) An Introduction to the Study of Insects, 6th edition. Harcourt Brace College Publishers. New York. pg 213
  5. (2016-01-21). "A hidden pygmy devil from the Philippines: ''Arulenus miae'' sp. nov. — a new species serendipitously discovered in an amateur Facebook post (Tetrigidae: Discotettiginae)". Zootaxa.
  6. Imms AD, rev. Richards OW & Davies RG (1970) ''A General Textbook of Entomology'' 9th Ed. Methuen 886 pp.
  7. Skejo, Josip. (2017). "Taxonomic revision of the pygmy devils (Tetrigidae: Discotettiginae) with online social media as a new tool for discovering hidden diversity". University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology.
  8. Resh VH, Cardé RT (2003) Encyclopedia of Insects. Academic Press, Amsterdam, pg 839
  9. (2002). "A basal aquatic-terrestrial trophic link in rivers: algal subsidies via shore-dwelling grasshoppers". [[Oecologia]].
  10. [https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article-abstract/179/2/291/2957736 Feeding patterns in tropical groundhoppers (Tetrigidae): a case of phylogenetic dietary conservatism in a basal group of Caelifera]
  11. Preston-Mafham K (1990) Grasshoppers and Mantids of the World. Facts of File, New York. pg 32
  12. Grimaldi D, Engel MS (2005) Evolution of the Insects. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. pg 211
  13. "Family Tetrigidae - Pygmy Grasshoppers".
  14. Buckton, George Bowdler. (1890). "Monograph of the British Cicadae or Tettigidae.". Macmillan & Co..
  15. [https://orthoptera.speciesfile.org/otus/806395/overview Orthoptera Species File (retrieved 5 July 2025)]
  16. (2020-12-10). "Wide-nosed pygmy grasshoppers (Cladonotinae: Cladonotini, Xerophyllini) of India and Sri Lanka: catalogue with an identification key and description of a new species of the genus ''Tettilobus''". Zootaxa.
  17. (2019-10-16). "Review of ''Lophotettix'', the sole member of the subfamily Lophotettiginae Hancock, 1909 (Insecta: Orthoptera: Caelifera: Tetrigidae)". Zootaxa.
  18. (2022-07-01). "Lepocranus and Valalyllum gen. nov. (Orthoptera, Tetrigidae, Cladonotinae), endangered Malagasy dead-leaf-like grasshoppers". ZooKeys.
  19. Cadena-Castañeda OJ, Quintana-Arias RF, Infante IC, Silva DSM, Tavares GC (2025) Studies on pygmy grasshoppers: On the current Metrodorinae sensu lato classification (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae) with emphasis on American and Malagasy taxa. ''Zootaxa'', 5597(1), 1–265. [https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5597.1.1 DOI]
  20. Bolívar. (1887). "Essai sur les acridiens de la tribu des Tettigidae". Imprimerie C. Annoot-Braeckman.
  21. Storozhenko, Sergey Yu.. (2013-10-03). "Review of the subfamily Tripetalocerinae Bolívar, 1887 (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae)". Zootaxa.
  22. (2017). "Biodiversity, Biogeography and Nature Conservation in Wallacea and New Guinea". Entomological Society of Latvia.

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tetrigidaeorthoptera-familiesextant-triassic-first-appearances