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Metamorphoses: simple North American Families: 10 North American Species: 1080 |
Orthoptera
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Description: These insects are relatively large, some as long as 18 cm. They have four wings with the front wings thickened and leathery. The hind wings are broad and membranous and are folded fanlike beneath the front wings when at rest. Some species have the wings reduced or absent. The antennae and ovipositor are long, sometimes as long as or longer than the body. Orthoptera have chewing mouthparts. The hind legs are large and modified for jumping. |
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| Comments: Grasshoppers and crickets are the best-known insect singers. Their songs are produced by rubbing the two front wings together (crickets) or by rubbing the hind leg on the front wing (grasshoppers). Most singing is done by males to attract females. There are also alarm sounds and aggressive songs. Many species chorus; when one individual starts to sing others join in. Some species gather and migrate in huge swarms. | |||
Families in this Order |
 Acrididae: Short-horned grasshoppers Size: 12 to 80 mm |
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Gryllidae: Crickets Size: 13 to 60 mm |
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Rhaphidiophoridae: Cave or camel crickets Size: |
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Tetrigidae: Pygmy grasshoppers Size: 13 to 19 mm |
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Tettigoniidae: Long-horned grasshoppers and katydids Size: 14 to 75 mm |
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