Pyrgomorphidae Explained

Pyrgomorphidae is a family of grasshoppers in the order Orthoptera; it is the only family in the superfamily Pyrgomorphoidea.^[1] Pyrgomorphidae are found worldwide in tropical and warm temperate regions (though none are from US mainland),^[1] but the vast majority of the family's approximately 500 species are from Africa, Asia and Australia.^[2] Their name is probably derived from pyrgos (Greek: Πύργος) meaning "tower": a reference to the form (morph) of the head in the type genus Pyrgomorpha and other genera.

They may sometimes be known as "gaudy grasshoppers",^[1] due to the striking, bright aposematic colouration of a number of genera, warning of their toxicity.^[2] However, about 90% of the species in the family are harmless and well-camouflaged,^[2] with a few, notably Sphenarium, even caught for human consumption.^[3]

Subfamilies and tribes

Incomplete list of genera and species:^[1]

Subfamily Orthacridinae

All tribes and selected genera only are shown here:

• Tribe Brunniellini Kevan, 1963 - Philippines
• Tribe Chapmanacridini Kevan & Akbar, 1964 - W. Africa
• Tribe Fijipyrgini Kevan, 1966 - Fiji
• Tribe Geloiini Bolívar, 1905 - Madagascar
• Tribe Gymnohippini Kevan & Akbar, 1964 - Madagascar
• Tribe Ichthiacridini Kevan, Singh & Akbar, 1964 - Mexico
• Tribe Ichthyotettigini Kevan, Singh & Akbar, 1964 - Mexico
• Tribe Malagasphenini Kevan & Akbar, 1964 - Madagascar
• Tribe Mitricephalini Kevan & Akbar, 1964 - Malesia
• Tribe Nereniini Kevan, 1964 - Vietnam, PNG
  • Genus Nerenia: Nerenia francoisi Bolívar, 1905 (monotypic)
  • Genus Megradina: Megradina festiva Storozhenko, 2004 (monotypic)
• Tribe Orthacridini Bolívar, 1905 - E. Africa, Madagascar, India, Indo-China

• • Genus Kuantania Miller, 1935
  • Genus Neorthacris Kevan & Singh, 1964
  • Genus Orthacris Bolívar, 1884
• Tribe Popoviini Kevan & Akbar, 1964 - E. Africa to India
  • Genus Popovia Uvarov, 1952
• Tribe Psednurini Burr, 1904 - Australia
• Tribe Sagittacridini Descamps & Wintrebert, 1966 - Madagascar
• Tribe Verduliini Kevan & Akbar, 1964 - Philippines to PNG

Subfamily Pyrgomorphinae

Some notable genera and species are shown here:

• Tribe Atractomorphini - Africa, Asia, Australia

• • Genus Atractomorpha
• Tribe Chlorizeinini Kevan & Akbar, 1964 - Africa, Asia
  • Genus Chlorizeina Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1893
• Tribe Chrotogonini Bolívar, 1904 - Africa, Asia
• Tribe Desmopterini - W. Africa, Asia, Australia
  • Genus Desmoptera: including Desmoptera truncatipennis^[4]
• Tribe Dictyophorini - Africa

• • Genus Dictyophorus: including Dictyophorus spumans
• Tribe Monistriini - Australia
  • Genus Monistria: including Monistria cicatricosa and Monistria pustulifera
• Tribe Omurini Kevan, 1961 - South America
• Tribe Petasidini - Australia
  • Genus Petasida: including Petasida ephippigera (Leichhardt's grasshopper)^{[4] [5]}
• Tribe Phymateini - Africa (incl. Madagascar), China

• • Genus Phymateus
  • Genus Zonocerus
• Tribe Poekilocerini Burmeister, 1840 - Africa, India, Indo-China, Malesia, PNG
  • Genus Poekilocerus Serville, 1831
• Tribe Psednurini - Australia
  • Genus Psednura
• Tribe Pseudomorphacridini Kevan & Akbar, 1964 - Indo-China
  • Genus Pseudomorphacris Carl, 1916
• Tribe Pyrgomorphini - Africa, W. Asia through to India
  • Genus Pyrgomorpha Serville, 1838
  • Genus Pyrgomorphella Bolívar, 1904
• Tribe Schulthessiini Kevan & Akbar, 1964 - Madagascar
• Tribe Sphenariini Bolívar, 1884 - Central America, Africa, China
  • Genus Sphenarium Charpentier, 1845
• Tribe Tagastini Bolívar, 1905 - SE Asia
  • Genus Tagasta Bolívar, 1905
• Tribe Taphronotini Bolívar, 1904 - Africa, India, Indo-China
  • Genus Aularches Stål, 1873: monotypic Aularches miliaris

External links

• • • Pyrgomorphoidea at the Global Biodiversity Information Facility Portal

Notes and References

1. Web site: Family Pyrgomorphidae Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1874: Orthoptera Species File.
2. Mariño-Pérez . R. . Song . H. . 2017 . Phylogeny of the grasshopper family Pyrgomorphidae(Caelifera, Orthoptera) based on morphology . Systematic Entomology . 43 . 1 . 90–108 . 10.1111/syen.12251 .
3. Cerritos . R. . Cano-Santana . Z. . 2008 . Harvesting grasshoppers Sphenarium purpurascens in Mexico for human consumption: A comparison with insecticidal control for managing pest outbreaks . Crop Protection . 27 . 3–5 . 473–480 . 10.1016/j.cropro.2007.08.001 . 2008CrPro..27..473C .
4. Web site: Orthoptera (Grasshoppers & Locusts) . 25 July 2011 . anic.ento.csiro.au . Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation .
5. Web site: 2. Petasida ephippigera White.