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Ensifera

(Suborder)

Overview

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Ensifera is a suborder of the order Orthoptera, comprising insects commonly known as crickets, katydids and bush crickets. "Ensifer" means "sword bearer" in Latin, and refers to the typically elongated and blade-like ovipositor of the females. The classification of the suborder was drastically revised in December 2005 by the Orthopterists' Society.

Photos

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Taxonomy

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The Suborder Ensifera is a member of the Order Orthoptera. Here is the complete "parentage" of Ensifera:

The Suborder Ensifera is further organized into finer groupings including:

Families

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Adumbratomorphidae

[more]

Anelcanidae

[more]

Anostostomatidae

Anostostomatidae is a family in the order Orthoptera. It is sometimes referred to as Mimnermidae or Henicidae in some taxonomies, and common names include King crickets in South Africa, and wetas in New Zealand. They are believed to be most closely related to the Jerusalem crickets of North America. Prominent members includes the Parktown prawn of South Africa, and the giant wetas of New Zealand. The cave wetas belong to another family, the Rhaphidophoridae. [more]

Baissogryllidae

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Bintoniellidae

[more]

Cachoplistidae

[more]

Cooloolidae

Cooloola is a genus of ensiferan orthopterans. It is the only genus in the family Cooloolidae of the superfamily Gryllacridoidea. [more]

Elcanidae

[more]

Eneopteridae

[more]

Gryllacrididae

A Gryllacrididae are Australian insect related to a grasshopper. They are known for being more aggressive than other insects. They are also referred to as "camel crickets." [more]

Gryllavidae

[more]

Gryllidae

Crickets, family Gryllidae (also known as "true crickets"), are insects somewhat related to grasshoppers and more closely related to katydids or bush crickets (family Tettigoniidae). They have somewhat flattened bodies and long antennae. There are about 900 species of crickets. They tend to be nocturnal and are often confused with grasshoppers because they have a similar body structure including jumping hind legs. [more]

Gryllotalpidae

The mole crickets compose family Gryllotalpidae, of thick-bodied insects about 3-5 cm (1-2 inches) long, with large beady eyes and shovel-like forelimbs highly developed for burrowing and swimming. They can also fly—the adult mole cricket may fly as far as 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) during mating season, is active most of the year, and spends the winter in hibernation. Younger insects can have shorter wings, and their appearance varies by species, with some resembling grasshoppers or very large ants or dark-colored "termites" when wings are short. [more]

Haglidae

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Hagloedischiidae

[more]

Haglotettigoniidae

[more]

Lezinidae

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Macropathidae

[more]

Mesoedischiidae

[more]

Mimnermidae

[more]

Mogoplistidae

[more]

Myrmecophilidae

The ant crickets are rarely-encountered relatives of crickets, and are obligate inquilines within ant nests. They are very small, wingless, and flattened, therefore resembling small cockroach nymphs. There are a few genera, containing fewer than 100 species. [more]

Oecanthidae

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Oedischiidae

[more]

Pentacentridae

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Permelcanidae

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Permoraphidiidae

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Phalangopsidae

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Phaneropteridae

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Phasmomimidae

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Proparagryllacrididae

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Prophalangopsidae

"Grig" redirects here. For the fictional Dungeons and Dragons creature, see Fey (Dungeons & Dragons). [more]

Protogryllidae

[more]

Pruvostitidae

[more]

Pseudelcanidae

[more]

Pseudophyllidae

[more]

Pteroplistidae

[more]

Raphoglidae

[more]

Rhaphidophoridae

The orthopteran family Rhaphidophoridae includes the cave wetas, cave crickets, camel crickets and sand treaders, of the suborder Ensifera, most are found in association with caves, animal burrows, cellars, under stones, or in similar environments. They are characterized in part by their long antennae and legs. They may be found on all continents and many continental islands, though Africa has but one species and that is confined to the southern Cape region. Those occurring in New Zealand, Australia, and Tasmania are typically referred to as wetas. [more]

Schizodactylidae

Schizodactylidae is a family of orthopteran insects found in Asia and Africa, known as dune crickets or splay-footed crickets. They are usually found in desert and sandy areas. Some species are believed to be predatory. T. B. Fletcher notes that one individual did not feed on any vegetable matter. [more]

Scleropteridae

[more]

Stenopelmatidae

Jerusalem crickets (genus Stenopelmatus) are a group of large (body length up to 69mm), flightless insects native to the western United States, along the Pacific Coast, and south into Mexico. Because of their large, human-like head, they are commonly called niño de la tierra (Spanish for "child of the earth"), Earth baby, cara de niño (Spanish for "child's face"), wó see ts'inii (Navajo for "skull insect"), or old bald-headed man. They are also often called potato bugs. [more]

Tcholmanvissiidae

[more]

Tettigoniidae

For the rock band Katydids, see Katydids (band). [more]

Thueringoedischiidae

[more]

Triassomanteidae

[more]

Trigonidiidae

[more]

Tuphellidae

[more]

Vitimiidae

[more]

Xenopteridae

[more]

More info about the Family xenopteridae may be found here.

Sources

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Last Revised: June 23, 2008