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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids (Orthoptera) » Long-horned Orthoptera (Ensifera) » Katydids, Camel Crickets, and relatives (Tettigoniidea) » Katydids (Tettigoniidae) » Shield-backed Katydids (Tettigoniinae)

Subfamily Tettigoniinae - Shield-backed Katydids

Classification · Other Common Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · Remarks · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited
6024307 - Pediodectes nigromarginatus - male Mormon Cricket - Anabrus simplex - female Husky katydid - Atlanticus DSCN4845 - Pediodectes bruneri - female American Shieldback - Atlanticus americanus? - Atlanticus - male Atlanticus glaber - male Ateloplus minor ? - female Anabrus simplex - male
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
Suborder Ensifera (Long-horned Orthoptera)
Infraorder Tettigoniidea (Katydids, Camel Crickets, and relatives)
Family Tettigoniidae (Katydids)
Subfamily Tettigoniinae (Shield-backed Katydids)
Other Common Names
Predaceous Katydids
Numbers
Singing Insects of North America lists approximately 25 genera. (1)
Capinera (2) lists 122 North American species in this subfamily.
Size
18-50 (a few, 85) mm
Identification
Usually have short wings, brown or black coloration. Pronotum usually shield-like, extends back over wings. Resemble robust crickets. True "shieldbacks", e.g., Atlanticus, have reduced wings, especially in females, and are flightless.
Range
Most genera (21 or so) in western North America. Four genera in east, Atlanticus is widespread.
Habitat
Varied: open country, croplands, a few in forests
Season
Summer, early fall
Food
Some species are active predators of other insects. Many also eat plant material and scavenge dead insects.
Remarks
Formerly called subfamily Decticinae. May bite if handled. In Europe, called "Wart Biters". Some species are pests of crops, such as the "Mormon Cricket", Anabrus simplex.
Print References
Capinera, pp. 184-191, plates 41-42 (2)
Arnett, pp. 163-164, figs. 11.19--Anabrus, 11.2--Atlanticus, 11.21--Peranabrus, 11.22--Hubbellia. (3)
Helfer, pp. 281-303, figs. 437-481 illustrates several genera. (4)
Internet References
SINA (1): subfamily page
key to Eastern genera, species list--has links to several accounts with photos
Insects of Cedar Creek--Minnesota, only Atlanticus is listed
Rentz & Birchim 1968 [key to most north american genera]
Works Cited
1.Singing Insects of North America
2.Field Guide To Grasshoppers, Katydids, And Crickets Of The United States
John L. Capinera, Ralph D. Scott, Thomas J. Walker. 2004. Cornell University Press.
3.American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico
Ross H. Arnett. 2000. CRC Press.
4.How to Know the Grasshoppers, Cockroaches, and Their Allies
Jacques R. Helfer. 1962. Wm. C. Brown Company.
Contributed by Cotinis on 16 February, 2004 - 12:32pm
Additional contributions by KenW, metrioptera
Last updated 18 August, 2016 - 1:18pm

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