Orthopteran Evolution:
There are two monophyletic sub orders within the order of Orthoptera. The suborder Caelifera includes grasshoppers and locusts, which are mainly diurnal, fast moving, visually acute and herbivorous (Gullan and Cranston 2005). The other suborder Ensifera includes katydid and crickets, which are predominantly nocturnal, camouflaged, predators and omnivorous (Gullan and Cranston 2005). Evidence suggests that the Eisferans are the most ancient group with fossils dating back to the Carboniferous period (~360 million years ago) (Ingrisch and Rentz 2009). Caelifera fossils begin to appear in the fossil record during the Permian period (~300 million years ago) (Ingrisch and Rentz 2009). The division of the orders is supported with molecular and morphological evidence.
Morphological data suggested that Orthoptera were most closely related to Phasmatodae (e.g. stick-insects) and sometimes entomologists would group the two orders together (Gullan and Cranston 2005). Evidence now suggests that due to different wing development, auditory organs, egg morphology and molecular data, the Orthoptera aren’t so closely related to Phasmatodae and are actually more likely to have diverged in an earlier branch (Gullan and Cranston 2005). This is shown in the Insecta phylogenetic tree below.
There are two monophyletic sub orders within the order of Orthoptera. The suborder Caelifera includes grasshoppers and locusts, which are mainly diurnal, fast moving, visually acute and herbivorous (Gullan and Cranston 2005). The other suborder Ensifera includes katydid and crickets, which are predominantly nocturnal, camouflaged, predators and omnivorous (Gullan and Cranston 2005). Evidence suggests that the Eisferans are the most ancient group with fossils dating back to the Carboniferous period (~360 million years ago) (Ingrisch and Rentz 2009). Caelifera fossils begin to appear in the fossil record during the Permian period (~300 million years ago) (Ingrisch and Rentz 2009). The division of the orders is supported with molecular and morphological evidence.
Morphological data suggested that Orthoptera were most closely related to Phasmatodae (e.g. stick-insects) and sometimes entomologists would group the two orders together (Gullan and Cranston 2005). Evidence now suggests that due to different wing development, auditory organs, egg morphology and molecular data, the Orthoptera aren’t so closely related to Phasmatodae and are actually more likely to have diverged in an earlier branch (Gullan and Cranston 2005). This is shown in the Insecta phylogenetic tree below.