Grasshoppers (Suborder: Caelifera)
Description
Antennae
- shorter than body
- less than 30 segments
Size
Legs
- hind legs greatly enlarged, modified for jumping
Abdomen
- ovipositor short (not obvious)
- auditory organ (tympanum) if present, is on the first abdominal segment
Common Names
- Grasshoppers
- Short-horned Orthoptera
Diversity in Alberta
- 2 Families
- 5 Subfamilies
- 43 Genera
- 87 Species
Families in Caelifera
Move up a level to Orthoptera
- Short-horned Grasshoppers
(Family: Acrididae)Antennae
- less than 2/3 body length, typically about one half body length
Size
Legs
- typically about as long as hind wings
- all tarsi have three segments (3-3-3)
Thorax
- pronotum does not extend beyond base of wings
Diversity in Alberta
- 4 Subfamilies
- 42 Genera
- 84 Species
- Pygmy Grasshoppers
(Family: Tetrigidae)Size
Wings
- forewings (tegmina) small, padlike, sometimes absent, may be exposed or covered by pronotum
Legs
Thorax
- pronotum is highly elongated, tapered, extends over the length of the abdomen, sometimes to the tip of the wings
Diversity in Alberta
- 1 Subfamily
- 1 Genus
- 3 Species
