Orthoptera of B.C.

Families in Ensifera

• True Crickets
  (Family: Gryllidae)

  • Antennae

    • at least as long as body

  • Eyes

    • three ocelli (simple eyes) on forehead

  • Wings

    • lie flat on body
    • very variable in size between species, being reduced in size in some and missing in others
    • forewings (tegmina) are elytra made of tough chitin
    • hind pair are membranous, folding fan-wise under the forewings

  • Legs

    • one or more tympani on front tibiae
    • femora of the back pair of legs are greatly enlarged for jumping
    • tarsi 3-3-3

  • Thorax

    • pronotum is trapezoidal in shape, robust and well-sclerotinized. It is smooth and has neither dorsal or lateral keels (ridges)

  • Abdomen

    • pair of long cerci on tip of abdomen
    • long narrow ovipositor (except sword-tailed)

  Diversity in B.C.

  • 3 Subfamilies
  • 4 Genera
  • 10 Species
• Ant Crickets
  (Family: Myrmecophilidae)

  • Size

    • 1.5-6.0mm

  • Color

    • yellow, brown, or nearly black

  • Wings

    • wingless

  • Legs

    • hind femora very wide
    • lack tympana on front tibiae

  Diversity in B.C.

  • 1 Subfamily
  • 1 Genus
  • 1 Species
• Hump-winged Crickets
  (Family: Prophalangopsidae)

  • Antennae

    • inserted about midway on face

  • Size

    • 17-30mm

  • Color

    • brown with black and pale yellowish markings

  • Wings

    • forewings (tegmina) of the male cover half or more of abdomen; those of the female are tiny

  • Legs

    • hind femur is short, extending no more than 3 mm beyond the end of the abdomen
    • tarsi 4-4-4

  Diversity in B.C.

  • 1 Subfamily
  • 1 Genus
  • 2 Species
• Camel Crickets
  (Family: Rhaphidophoridae)

  • Antennae

    • touching or nearly touching at base

  • Size

    • 9-50mm
    • less than 100mm including legs

  • Color

    • light tan to dark brown

  • Body

    • hump-backed

  • Wings

    • wingless

  • Legs

    • very long legs
    • long femora and equally long, thin tibiae
    • hind femora extend beyond tip of abdomen
    • no tympana (hearing organs) on front tibiae
    • tarsi 4-4-4

  • Thorax

    • pronotum resembles abdominal terga

  Diversity in B.C.

  • 2 Subfamilies
  • 3 Genera
  • 7 Species
• Jerusalem Crickets
  (Family: Stenopelmatidae)

  • Antennae

    • inserted higher on face
    • widely seperated at base

  • Size

    • 21-75mm

  • Body

    • large head

  • Wings

    • wingless

  • Legs

    • very stout legs with strong spines on tibiae
    • hindfemora do not reach beyond the tip of the abdomen
    • tympana (hearing organs) on front tibiae
    • tarsi 4-4-4

  • Abdomen

    • short ovipositor

  Diversity in B.C.

  • 1 Subfamily
  • 1 Genus
  • 2 Species
• Katydids
  (Family: Tettigoniidae)

  • Antennae

    • at least as long as body and usually considerably longer often extending well beyond tip of abdomen

  • Size

    • greater than 10mm

  • Wings

    • wings held vertically over body, resembling roof of a house

  • Legs

    • tympana (hearing organs) on front tibiae
    • tarsi 4-4-4

  • Abdomen

    • ovipositor typically flattened and sword-like

  Diversity in B.C.

  • 4 Subfamilies
  • 10 Genera
  • 13 Species