Long-horned Orthoptera (Suborder: Ensifera)
Description
Antennae
- greater than 2/3 body length (except mole crickets)
- more than 30 segments
- slender
Legs
Abdomen
- ovipositor long
- tympanum (hearing organ) on the front tibia in most groups (or absent)
Diversity in Canada
- 8 Families
- 17 Subfamilies
- 34 Genera
- 94 Species
Families in Ensifera
Move up a level to Orthoptera
- Leaf-rolling Crickets
(Family: Gryllacrididae)Antennae
- separated at the base by the length of the first antennal segment or greater
- multiple times as long as body
Wings
Legs
- hind femora extend beyond the end of the abdomen (but only when they are parallel with the abdomen)
- no tympana (hearing organs) on front tibiae
- slender tibiae
- tarsi 4-4-4
Diversity in Canada
- 1 Subfamily
- 1 Genus
- 1 Species
- YK
- NT
- BC
- AB
- SK
- NU
- MB
- ON
- PQ
- NB
- NS
- PE
- LB
- NF
- True Crickets
(Family: Gryllidae)Antennae
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 Canada
- 4 Subfamilies
- 9 Genera
- 24 Species
- Mole Crickets
(Family: Gryllotalpidae)Antennae
- less than half body length
Size
Body
Legs
- front legs broad, modified for digging, have large "claws"
- hind legs adapted for shoving while digging, rather than jumping
- hindfemur not reaching tip of abdomen
- tympana at base of front tibiae
- tarsi 3-3-3
Abdomen
Diversity in Canada
- 1 Subfamily
- 1 Genus
- 1 Species
- YK
- NT
- BC
- AB
- SK
- NU
- MB
- ON
- PQ
- NB
- NS
- PE
- LB
- NF
- Ant Crickets
(Family: Myrmecophilidae)Size
Color
- yellow, brown, or nearly black
Wings
Legs
- hind femora very wide
- lack tympana on front tibiae
Diversity in Canada
- 1 Subfamily
- 1 Genus
- 2 Species
- Hump-winged Crickets
(Family: Prophalangopsidae)Antennae
- inserted about midway on face
Size
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 Canada
- 1 Subfamily
- 1 Genus
- 2 Species
- YK
- NT
- BC
- AB
- SK
- NU
- MB
- ON
- PQ
- NB
- NS
- PE
- LB
- NF
- Camel Crickets
(Family: Rhaphidophoridae)Antennae
- touching or nearly touching at base
Size
- 9-50mm
- less than 100mm including legs
Color
Body
Wings
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 Canada
- 3 Subfamilies
- 5 Genera
- 21 Species
- Jerusalem Crickets
(Family: Stenopelmatidae)Antennae
- inserted higher on face
- widely seperated at base
Size
Body
Wings
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
Diversity in Canada
- 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
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 Canada
- 5 Subfamilies
- 15 Genera
- 41 Species
