Orthopterida

Orthopterida
Temporal range: Carboniferous–recent

Carboniferous - Recent

Caloneura dawsoni fossil
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Subclass: Pterygota
Infraclass: Polyneoptera
Superorder: Orthopterida
Orders

†Caloneurodea
Orthoptera
Phasmatodea
Titanoptera

The Orthopterida is a superorder of the Polyneoptera that represents the extant orders Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets, and katydids), and Phasmatodea (stick insects and leaf insects). The Orthopterida also includes the extinct orders Titanoptera and Caloneurodea. There is general consensus of monophyly in this superorder, based on reduction of the second valvulae, an ovipositor derived from the gonoplac, and an enlarged precostal region on the forewing.

The two other superorders of the Polyneoptera are the Plecopterida, which represents the orders Plecoptera (stoneflies), Emboidea (Embioptera/Embiidina; webspinners), and Zoraptera (angel insects), and the Dictyoptera, which represents Blattodea (cockroaches & termites), and Mantodea (mantids). Two other orders, the Notoptera (ice-crawlers and gladiators) and Dermaptera (earwigs) are also placed in the Polyneoptera but outside of the superorders discussed above.[1]

See also

References

  1. Grimaldi, D., and M.S. Engel. 2005. Evolution of the Insects. Cambridge University Press, New York, pp. 191-194.