Tribe Sphingonotini

tribe Trimerotropi W. S. Blatchley, 1920

tribe Bryodemini Bei-Bienko, 1930 (in part: genus Circotettix)

tribe Sphingonotini Johnston, H.B. 1956 (at least in part; as to American genera)

Anconia Genus Group D. Otte, 1984

tribe Anconiini Otte, D. 1995

tribe Tropidolophini Otte, D. 1995

Morphologically, primarily Old World Sphingonotus and related genera are similar to New World Trimerotropis and related genera. Therefore, they have been grouped together in the same tribe - "Sphingonotini".

However, ongoing molecular studies tentatively show that most (if not all) American genera should probably be separated from Old World genera. An American tribe would be named for the genus Trimerotropis, with the name "Trimerotropi" having been used for the group. It actually seems that the name Trimerotropini has priority as the older name; however, the name Sphingonotini is used here, following the Orthoptera Species File, for now.

The only genus to occur in both the Americas and the Eastern Hemisphere is Sphingonotus (found in the Greater Antilles and the Galapagos Islands). The genus is not in North America as covered in BugGuide (but see Anconia).

An older tribal name is Bryodemini (and thus has priority), but that name has not traditionally been used for most American genera, nor is it currently grouped together with Old World Sphingonotini. The Bryodemini seem not to be related to any North American genera; so, that name is not used here. However, Bryodemini are closely related to Old World Sphingonotini, and it seems quite likely that one day the Old World genera of tribe Sphingonotini could be subsumed into the Bryodemini as a single tribe.

The genus Circotettix (sometimes included in Bryodemini) has been shown by fairly convincing data to be very closely related to Trimerotropis, and putting them in separate tribes would be unnatural and has little advantage.

The genus Anconia is little studied yet, but seems to be closely related to the rest placed here. However, it is also very similar to some species of Sphingonotus. It is grouped here for convenience, with the qualification that it may really not belong (but it probably does).

Tropidolophus also may not belong, but is similar to Dissosteira in many ways (which does belong).

Both Anconia and Tropidolophus need more study.

A varied group, but generally relatively slender, most often with colored hind wings. Hind wings are clear, yellow, green, or blue, with only two known species having wings more in the red range (Dissosteira pictipennis & Tropidolophus formosus), and with Spharagemon marmorata leaning toward orange somewhat. In North American members there is usually a dark band crossing near or just beyond the middle, and this usually has a distinct spur extending toward the base near the front margin of the wing. A few species have the dark cross band greatly expanded to cover much of the wing. In one species (Dissosteira spurcata) the dark band is in the form of a narrow dark outer border. The tegmina of most species have two or three dark cross bands that may be nearly solid or broken into spots or speckles. In most species the median ridge of the pronotum is well developed (though it may be very low) and cut once or twice. There are rarely any other strongly developed ridges on top of the pronotum, but there might be a short low one on either side of the median, or ill-defined ones at the edges of the top side. The hind femur is usually marked with dark cross bands (particularly on the inner side). Hind tibiae vary in color - brownish, red, orange, yellow, green, or blue. Adults of most species can produce buzzing, crackling, snapping, or ticking sounds (crepitation) when they fly.

As a whole, North and South America, Eurasia, northern Africa, and Australia. American genera are mostly restricted to North America, but a few reach further south, with Trimerotropis to southern Argentina.

This group contains many of our most conspicuous and well known Grasshoppers. Rarely are any of economic significance, but they are noticed regardless because of their tendency to make themselves easily seen and heard. Some are quite beautiful, especially upon close examination. Most are masters of camouflage, even those that can be very conspicuous at times. When they land on ground that they closely match in color and pattern, they become nearly invisible to casual observation.