Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
tribe Hippisci W. S. Blatchley, 1920 (or perhaps earlier by another author?)
Hippiscus Genus Group D. Otte, 1984
tribe Hippiscini D. Otte, 1995
Identification
Mostly stocky grasshoppers, many species are quite large. The median pronotal ridge (crest) is often very faint and not so developed as in most other Oedipodinae. Antennae tend to be very long, especially in males. The tegmina (when folded) in many species have a pair of pale lines along the top edges, that often extends forward along the sides of the top of the pronotum. The dark band crossing the hand wing may or may not have a spur, and tends to curve around near or at the outer margin of the wing. It may be replaced by smoky shading in Heliastus. The wings are mostly yellow to red, but in Leprus they are most often greenish to blue, and at least one species of Heliastus has blue wings. Camnula has nearly clear wings with no obvious cross band[/i]. The hind tibiae of Hippiscini are usually yellowish to red, but in Leprus they are often green or blue. The group is characterized by most species having the posterior lophi of the epiphalus of the male trilobed (not easy to see in the field)!. Even though it has been reported otherwise in some books, no species are known to crepitate in flight; however, some are so large and powerful as to produce a moderately loud sound just from the air passing over the wings.
Remarks
At first glance Hadrotettix and Heliastus may seem odd bedfellows here, but they have much in common with the group, and differences in appearance are likely superficial. On the flip side, they might eventually be shown to belong in a distinct group.
