Atractomorpha (Pyrgomorphidae)
Encyclopedia
Atractomorpha is a genus
in the Pyrgomorphidae
, a family of grasshoppers.
The genus name is derived from the Greek and means something like "spindle-shaped" or "arrow-shaped". There are genera in various families of Orthoptera
that have such cone-shaped heads, and there are genera within the family Pyrgomorphidae(such as Phymateus and Dictyophorus) that do not have cone-shaped heads, so the taxonomy is difficult for professionals not active in that field, as well as for laymen.http://fiveprime.org/hivemind/Tags/atractomorpha/Interesting
Not much is written about the biology of Atractomorpha, but they appear to be herbivores typical of the Orthoptera, so it is not surprising that some species seem to be minor pests in gardens and some, such as Atractomorpha psittacina and Atractomorpha bedeli, significant pests in rice. As with many grasshoppers in various families, the males are smaller than the females and are prone to ride on them whether they are copulating or not. 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.
They also share a habit with various generally sedentary Orthoptera, of kicking their frass a considerable distance away from themselves, apparently as a strategy for avoiding the attentions of parasitoids and predators.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
in the Pyrgomorphidae
Pyrgomorphidae
Pyrgomorphidae is a family of grasshoppers in the order Orthoptera commonly known as the gaudy grasshoppers. It is the only family in the superfamily Pyrgomorphoidea, and contains 29 genera and at least 70 species and subspecies.-Families and genera:...
, a family of grasshoppers.
The genus name is derived from the Greek and means something like "spindle-shaped" or "arrow-shaped". There are genera in various families of Orthoptera
Orthoptera
Orthoptera is an order of insects with paurometabolous or incomplete metamorphosis, including the grasshoppers, crickets and locusts.Many insects in this order produce sound by rubbing their wings against each other or their legs, the wings or legs containing rows of corrugated bumps...
that have such cone-shaped heads, and there are genera within the family Pyrgomorphidae(such as Phymateus and Dictyophorus) that do not have cone-shaped heads, so the taxonomy is difficult for professionals not active in that field, as well as for laymen.http://fiveprime.org/hivemind/Tags/atractomorpha/Interesting
Not much is written about the biology of Atractomorpha, but they appear to be herbivores typical of the Orthoptera, so it is not surprising that some species seem to be minor pests in gardens and some, such as Atractomorpha psittacina and Atractomorpha bedeli, significant pests in rice. As with many grasshoppers in various families, the males are smaller than the females and are prone to ride on them whether they are copulating or not. 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.
They also share a habit with various generally sedentary Orthoptera, of kicking their frass a considerable distance away from themselves, apparently as a strategy for avoiding the attentions of parasitoids and predators.