Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
3. Family TETTIGONIIDAE
4. Family ACRIDIDAE
EXAMPLE:
Leptophyes punctatissima
(spotted
bush-cricket).
The largest family, encompassing locusts and
short-horned grasshoppers; antennae short and
stout; pronotum with a median ridge; tympanal
organs located in the sides of the abdomen; indi-
viduals stridulate by rubbing the hindlegs against
the forewings. Although of significance as crop
pests in many warmer parts of the world (the
devastation caused by locusts being legendary),
no species are of economic importance in north-
ern Europe.
Suborder CAELIFERA
(grasshoppers and locusts)
Antennae shorter than body and with fewer
than 30 segments; ovipositor, if present, short
and robust.
Superfamily
ACRIDOIDEA
Tarsi usually 3-segmented; ovipositor present.
ORDER DERMA]
ERA (EARWIGS)
1. Family FORFICULIDAE
(p. 89)
Elongate, omnivorous insects with mouthparts
prognathous, adapted for biting and chewing;
forewings modified into very short, leathery
elytra; hindwings semi-circular and membranous,
with a radial venation; legs short, tarsi 3-
segmented; anal cerci usually modified into a pair
of forceps-like pincers
(Fig.
18); ovipositor re-
duced or absent. Metamorphosis incomplete; de-
velopment includes egg and nymphal stages, the
latter being similar in appearance to adults but
smaller and less strongly sclerotized.
Second tarsal segment expanded (heart-shaped)
- cylindrical in the other European families:
Labiduridae and Labiidae.
EXAMPLE:
Forficula
auricularia
(common
earwig).
Suborder FORFICULINA
Earwigs with well-developed eyes.
Fig.
18 Anal cerci of an earwig: (a) female; (b)
male - left cercus.
Fig.
17 Ovipositor of a bush-cricket - family
Tettigoniidae.
