Tetrigidae

These tiny bugs are called pygmy grasshoppers.

They have a long shell on their back. This shell covers their whole body.

Some look like leaves or small stones. This helps them hide from others.

Many live near ponds and streams. They like to eat green algae.

Some can even swim on water. Others can swim under the water! They are very small and amazing.

Pygmy grasshoppers belong to a family called Tetrigidae.

They are part of a group called Orthoptera. This group also includes crickets and grasshoppers.

You can spot them by their long pronotum. This is a large part of their back shell. It stretches over their whole body and ends in a point. This shell is much longer than the shells on other grasshoppers. Some species use this shell to hide. They might look like leaves, twigs, or stones.

Many of these insects live near water. They like to eat algae and moss.

Some species live in tropical forests. They can live on the forest floor or high in trees. Some can even swim on top of the water. A few types can even swim under the water! They grow in a way called hemimetabolous development. This means eggs hatch into young bugs called nymphs.

Pygmy grasshoppers belong to an ancient family called Tetrigidae.

This family is part of the larger group known as Orthoptera. This group also includes familiar insects like crickets and grasshoppers.

You might hear people call them groundhoppers or pygmy devils. They are very special because they have lived on Earth for a very long time. Their history goes all the way back to the Triassic period. This makes them a very old and interesting part of our world.

You can recognize a Tetrigid by its long pronotum. The pronotum is a large plate that covers the insect's back. In most grasshoppers, this plate is quite short. In Tetrigidae, it stretches all the way down the abdomen.

This long shell often ends in a sharp point. Many species use this part to hide from predators. They use cryptic coloration to blend in with their surroundings. Some look just like green leaves or small stones. Others might look like tiny twigs on the ground.

How these insects live depends on where they stay. Many live near streams, ponds, or banks of water.

They often eat algae, diatoms, or moss. In North America, species like Paratettix aztecus rely on aquatic plants for most of their food. Some tropical species live high in the trees among moss. Others stay on the forest floor. Some are even able to swim on top of the water. A few special types can even swim deep underwater!

These insects grow in a way called hemimetabolous development. This means that eggs hatch into young bugs called nymphs. These nymphs look like smaller versions of the adults. In many cold areas, these insects stay as adults during the winter. The family was officially named by Rambur in 1838. The name might come from a Latin word meaning harsh or severe. It was also changed to avoid confusion with the cicada family.

There is a huge variety of these insects in nature. Scientists have described more than 320 different genera. They are spread out across many different subfamilies. For example, the subfamily Tripetalocerinae has very large antennae. These antennae only have eight segments, while others have many more. You can find them in places like the Philippines or Madagascar. From tiny forest dwellers to swimmers, they are a diverse group.

Tetrigidae is an ancient family of insects within the order Orthoptera. This order also includes crickets and grasshoppers. Members of Tetrigidae are commonly known as groundhoppers, pygmy grasshoppers, or pygmy devils. Some people historically called them grouse locusts. These insects are a very old lineage. Their history reaches back to the Triassic period. They play important roles in many different ecosystems around the world.

One major way to identify a Tetrigid is by its pronotum. The pronotum is a large plate on the insect's thorax. In most other Orthoptera, the pronotum is short. In Tetrigidae, the pronotum is unusually long. It extends over the length of the abdomen. It sometimes reaches the tips of the wings. This structure often ends in a sharp point.

Other physical traits help scientists tell them apart from other families. Tetrigidae have a specific tarsal formula of 2-2-3. This refers to the number of segments on their feet. They also have scaly forewings and developed hindwings. They lack an arolium, which is a small pad between the claws. Their first thoracic sternite is modified into a collar-like structure called a sternomentum. Many species use cryptic coloration to hide. This means they use colors that mimic leaves, stones, or twigs.

Feeding habits vary depending on where a species lives. In temperate regions, many stay near streams and ponds. They often eat algae and diatoms. For example, North American species Paratettix aztecus and Paratettix mexicanus rely on aquatic primary production for 80% to 100% of their diet. Other species eat detritus, moss, or fungal hyphae. In tropical forests, biodiversity is very high. Some species are arboreal, meaning they live in tree canopies. Others live on the forest floor or among mosses in tree buttresses.

Some groundhoppers have amazing abilities in the water. Riparian species can swim on the surface of the water. They will leap into the water if they feel alarmed. Certain members of the tribe Scelimenini are fully aquatic. These insects can actually swim underwater. This shows how diverse their lifestyles can be. Their development is hemimetabolous. This means eggs hatch into nymphs that look like small adults. In temperate zones, many Tetrigidae overwinter as adults.

The family was named by Rambur in 1838. The origin of the name is not entirely certain. It may come from the Latin word tetricus, which means harsh or severe. The name might also relate to the earlier name Tettigidae. This name was based on the genus Tettix. However, that name was already used for a family of cicadas. To avoid this confusion, the second 't' was changed to an 'r'. This resulted in the current name, Tetrigidae.

There is massive variety within this family. Scientists have described more than 320 genera across 10 subfamilies. The subfamily Tripetalocerinae is a unique example. It was originally described by Bolívar in 1887. This group includes genera with very wide antennae. These antennae are made of only eight segments. Most other Tetrigidae have between 11 and 16 segments. Some subfamilies, like Batrachideinae, are sometimes treated as their own separate family. This large number of groups shows how much the family has evolved over time.