Atractomorpha (grasshopper)

Atractomorpha is a genus in the Pyrgomorphidae, a family of grasshoppers, found in Africa, Asia, and Australia.[1][2]

Atractomorpha
Atractomorpha crenulata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Orthoptera
Suborder: Caelifera
Family: Pyrgomorphidae
Subfamily: Pyrgomorphinae
Tribe: Atractomorphini
Genus: Atractomorpha
Saussure, 1862
Species

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Biology

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Not much is written about the biology of the Atractomorpha, but they are herbivores typical of the Orthoptera, so it is understandable that some species seem to be minor pests in gardens [3] and that some, such as Atractomorpha psittacina and Atractomorpha bedeli, are significant pests in rice.[4]

As with many grasshoppers in various families, the males are smaller than the females and ride on them long before copulation. They remain there during the period in which the female achieves sexual receptiveness. Similar strategies are common in vertebrates such as some amphibians, as well as various invertebrates, where the males attempt to keep rivals from mating with the female.

At least some Atractomorpha species also share a habit with various generally sedentary Orthoptera such as some Pamphagidae, of producing their excreta in the form of relatively few, large, elongated faecal pellets, one at a time. As each pellet emerges, they kick it a considerable distance away, using the tibia of one rear leg. This apparently is a strategy for avoiding the attentions of parasitoids and predators that otherwise might have been attracted to the smell of a host midden.[5][6]

Atractomorpha are active during the day, and their usual habitat is reeds and grasses close to rivers or streams.[7]

Taxonomy

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The genus name Atractomorpha is derived from the Greek language and means "spindle-shaped" or "arrow-shaped".[8] Various families of Orthoptera (including the Acrididae and Lentulidae) include genera whose species have similarly cone-shaped heads, and there are genera within the family Pyrgomorphidae (such as Phymateus and Dictyophorus) that do not have cone-shaped heads,[9] so their superficial appearance may be misleading even for professionals not specifically active in that field.

Species

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Atractomorpha acutipennis female: Cameroon
 
Atractomorpha lata male (left) and female (right) in full copulation

The Orthoptera Species File[2] includes:

  1. Atractomorpha aberrans Karsch, 1888
  2. Atractomorpha acutipennis (Guérin-Méneville, 1844)
  3. Atractomorpha angusta Karsch, 1888
  4. Atractomorpha australis Rehn, 1907
  5. Atractomorpha burri Bolívar, 1905
  6. Atractomorpha crenaticeps (Blanchard, 1853)
  7. Atractomorpha crenulata (Fabricius, 1793)
  8. Atractomorpha dubia Wang, Xiangyu, He & Mu, 1995
  9. Atractomorpha fuscipennis Liang, 1988
  10. Atractomorpha himalayica Bolívar, 1905
  11. Atractomorpha hypoestes Key & Kevan, 1980
  12. Atractomorpha lata (Mochulsky, 1866)
  13. Atractomorpha melanostriga Bi, 1981
  14. Atractomorpha micropenna Zheng, 1992
  15. Atractomorpha nigripennis Zheng, 2000
  16. Atractomorpha occidentalis Kevan & Chen, 1969
  17. Atractomorpha orientalis Kevan & Chen, 1969
  18. Atractomorpha peregrina Bi & Xia, 1981
  19. Atractomorpha psittacina (Haan, 1842)
  20. Atractomorpha rhodoptera Karsch, 1888
  21. Atractomorpha rufopunctata Bolívar, 1894
  22. Atractomorpha sagittaris Bi & Xia, 1981
  23. Atractomorpha similis Bolívar, 1884
  24. Atractomorpha sinensis Bolívar, 1905
  25. Atractomorpha suzhouensis Bi & Xia, 1981
  26. Atractomorpha taiwanensis Yin & Shi, 2007
  27. Atractomorpha yunnanensis Bi & Xia, 1981

References

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  1. ^ "Vegetable Grasshopper". Museum of Queensland. Archived from the original on 2019-03-10. Retrieved 2019-09-11.
  2. ^ a b Orthoptera Species File: genus Atractomorpha Saussure, 1862 (retrieved 17 July 2024)
  3. ^ "The World's Best Photos of atractomorpha - Flickr Hive Mind". fiveprime.org. Archived from the original on 14 April 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  4. ^ Shepard, B. M. Barrion, A. T. Litsinger J. A. Rice-Feeding Insects of Tropical Asia - Page 116. International Rice Research Institute. Manila, Philippines 1995 ISBN 971-22-0062-0
  5. ^ Yosuke TANAKA, Eiiti KASUYA; Flying distance of frass kicked by the grasshopper Atractomorpha lata and factors affecting the flying distance; Entomological Science Volume 14, Issue 2, pages 133–141, April 2011
  6. ^ Feedback, New Scientist Number 2810, page 64 and Number 2816, page 64
  7. ^ David C. Rentz (1996). Grasshopper Country: The Abundant Orthopteroid Insects of Australia. UNSW Press. p. 168. ISBN 9780868400631.
  8. ^ Jaeger, Edmund C. (1959). A Source-Book of Biological Names and Terms. Springfield, Ill: Thomas. ISBN 0-398-06179-3.
  9. ^ Alan Weaving; Mike Picker; Griffiths, Charles Llewellyn (2003). Field Guide to Insects of South Africa. New Holland Publishers, Ltd. ISBN 1-86872-713-0.
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