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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids (Orthoptera) » Grasshoppers (Caelifera) » Pygmy Mole 'Crickets' (Tridactylidae)

Family Tridactylidae - Pygmy Mole 'Crickets'

Classification · Other Common Names · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Remarks · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited
Very young Orthoptera; I think... - Neotridactylus apicialis Neotridactylus apicialis Neotridactylus archboldi Ellipes deyrupi insect - Ellipes minuta Neotridactylus - Neotridactylus archboldi Ellipes eisneri Neotridactylus - Neotridactylus archboldi
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
Suborder Caelifera (Grasshoppers)
Family Tridactylidae (Pygmy Mole 'Crickets')
Other Common Names
Pygmy Sand Crickets, Sand Crickets, Pygmy Mole Grasshopper
Explanation of Names
Tridactylidae Saussure 1874
Numbers
8 spp. in 2 genera in our area, >140 spp. in 9 genera total(1)
Size
<20 mm, our spp. <10 mm
Identification
Small, flattened, cricket-like. Hind femora enlarged, flattened; tarsal formula 2-2-3
Range
patchy distribution on all continents but Antarcticain our area, Neotridactylus apicialis widespread, N. archboldi restricted to FL; Ellipes minuta widespread, 2 spp. restricted to FL and 3 spp. western
Habitat
Typically sandy margins of ponds, ditches, streams. The FL endemic species in upland sandy ridges.
Remarks
able to swim
Print References
Burrows M., Picker M.D. (2010) Jumping mechanisms and performance of pygmy mole crickets (Orthoptera, Tridactylidae). J. Exp. Biol. 213: 2386-2398 (Full text)
Günther K.K. (1985) A new Pygmy Mole Grasshopper from California and Baja California, Mexico (Orthoptera: Tridactylidae). Pan-Pac. Entomol. 61: 139-145. (Full text)
Internet References
Tridactylidae of the Southeastern United States
Works Cited
1.Orthoptera Species File Online
Contributed by Jeff Hollenbeck on 5 March, 2006 - 1:34am
Additional contributions by cotinis, Aaron Schusteff, David Ferguson, v belov, metrioptera
Last updated 30 June, 2023 - 12:57am

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