Mogoplistidae

Mogoplistidae is a family of scaly crickets and allies within the superfamily Grylloidea. Considered to be monophyletic, a sister taxon to the Gryllidae crickets. This family consists of more than 370 species worldwide; 20 species in 4 genera occur in North America and this family includes the scaly crickets of Europe.

Subfamilies, Tribes and selected Genera

The Orthoptera Species File lists the following:

Malgasiinae

Auth.: Gorochov 1984; distribution: Madagascar and Indian Ocean islands

• Malgasia <small>Uvarov, 1940</small>

Mogoplistinae

Auth.: Brunner von Wattenwyl 1873

tribe Arachnocephalini <small>Gorochov 1984</small>

1. Apterornebius <small>Ingrisch, 2006</small>
2. Arachnocephalus <small>Costa, 1855</small>
3. Bothromogoplistes <small>Gorochov, 2020</small>
4. Cycloptiloides <small>Sjöstedt, 1909</small>
5. Cycloptilum <small>Scudder, 1869</small>
6. Discophallus <small>Gorochov, 2009</small>
7. Ectatoderus <small>Guérin-Méneville, 1847</small>
8. Ornebius <small>Guérin-Méneville, 1844</small>
9. Pseudomogoplistes <small>Gorochov, 1984</small>
10. †Archornebius
11. †Pseudarachnocephalus <small>Gorochov, 2010</small>

tribe Mogoplistini <small>Brunner von Wattenwyl 1873</small>

1. Biama <small>Otte & Alexander, 1983</small>
2. Collendina <small>Otte & Alexander, 1983</small>
3. Derectaotus <small>Chopard, 1936</small>
4. Eucycloptilum <small>Chopard, 1935</small>
5. Gotvendia <small>Bolívar, 1927</small>
6. Hoplosphyrum <small>Rehn & Hebard, 1912</small>
7. Kalyra <small>Otte & Alexander, 1983</small>
8. Kiah <small>Otte & Alexander, 1983</small>
9. Marinna <small>Otte & Alexander, 1983</small>
10. Microgryllus <small>Philippi, 1863</small>
11. Micrornebius <small>Chopard, 1969</small>
12. Mogoplistes <small>Serville, 1838</small>
13. Musgravia <small>Otte, 1994</small>
14. Oligacanthopus <small>Rehn & Hebard, 1912</small>
15. Pachyornebius <small>Chopard, 1969</small>
16. Paramogoplistes <small>Gorochov, 1984</small>
17. Pongah <small>Otte & Alexander, 1983</small>
18. Talia <small>Otte & Alexander, 1983</small>
19. Terraplistes <small>Ingrisch, 2006</small>
20. Tubarama <small>Yamasaki, 1985</small>
21. Yarabina <small>Otte, 1994</small>

†Protomogoplistinae

• †Protomogoplistes <small>Gorochov, 2010</small> Burmese amber, Myanmar, Cenomanian

Ecology

These crickets have a worldwide distribution: especially in tropical/subtropical environments near water. Like many other crickets, they are omnivorous scavengers and will eat fungi, plant material, and other insects. Members of this family are distinguished from closely related families by the scales that covers their abdomen and parts of their thorax and resemble those of Lepidoptera.

History

The family was originally described by Brunner von Wattenwyl in 1873, but a genus (mogoplistes) was described earlier, 1838, by Serville and was the basis for the family nomenclature. Mogoplistidae has three subfamilies: Mogoplistinae, Malgasiinae and Protomogoplistinae. Little work has been completed to classify and describe these crickets although work has been done on their acoustic development and identification of new characters.

References

External links