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Order Orthoptera and Grylloptera
(Grasshoppers, crickets)
Soil & Water Conservation Society of Metro Halifax (SWCSMH)
July 26, 2006 
Contents:
- Superphylum Arthropoda
- (jointed-legged metazoan animals [Gr, arthron = joint; pous = foot])
- Phylum Entoma
- Subphylum Uniramia
- (L, unus = one; ramus = branch, referring to the unbranched nature of the appendages)
- Superclass Hexapoda
- (Gr, hex = six, pous = foot)
- Class Insecta
- (L, insectum meaning cut into sections)
- Subclass Ptilota
- Infraclass Neopterygota
Introduction
Orthopterans are not usually thought of as being aquatic, or even semi-aquatic, but a considerable number of species live in association with water (i.e. they are hydrophilous). Recent revision of the group has proposed that it should be split into two: the order Grylloptera, containing the crickets, long-horned grasshoppers, katydids; and the Orthoptera (s. str., or in the strict sense), containing the short-horned grasshoppers and their allies. Both orders contain hydrophilous species.
Feeding
The majority of orthopterans feed by chewing green plant material, but some gryllids collect particles of detritus and a few katydids are known to be predators.
References and web URLs:
- Williams, D.D., and Feltmate, B.W. 1992. Aquatic Insects. CAB International. ISBN: 0-85198-782-6. xiii, 358p.
- Mandaville, S.M. 1999. Bioassessment of Freshwaters Using Benthic Macroinvertebrates-A Primer. First Ed. Project E-1, Soil & Water Conservation Society of Metro Halifax. viii, Chapters I-XXVII, Appendices A-D. 244p.
- Tree of Life-Orthoptera
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