Acridoidea

Acridoidea is a superfamily of grasshoppers within the suborder Caelifera of the order Orthoptera. It comprises many of the short-horned grasshoppers and represents a highly diverse group that occupies a wide range of habitats, from deserts and grasslands to forests and agricultural landscapes. The group is globally distributed, with the greatest diversity in tropical and subtropical regions but many species occurring in temperate zones as well.

Morphology and diagnosis: Members of Acridoidea typically have relatively short antennae (shorter than their body length), robust bodies, and powerful hind legs adapted for jumping. Adults usually possess forewings (tegmina) and hind wings in many species, though wing size can vary. Males often produce sounds by stridulating with the forewings or legs, and many taxa have auditory organs on the abdomen or hind legs that detect these sounds.

Taxonomy and composition: The largest family within Acridoidea is Acrididae, the true grasshoppers, which includes many common pest species and a broad diversity of forms. Other families historically placed in Acridoidea include Romaleidae, Oedipodidae, and Pyrgomorphidae, among others. Classification schemes have varied, and molecular phylogenetic studies have led to revisions in the composition and relationships of families within the superfamily.

Life cycle and reproduction: Like other Caelifera, Acridoidea species undergo incomplete metamorphosis. Eggs are typically laid in soil or plant tissue and hatch into wingless nymphs that molt through several instars before reaching adulthood. Development is often rapid in warm conditions, and some species can produce multiple generations per year.

Ecology and impact: Most Acridoidea species are herbivorous, feeding on grasses and herbaceous plants. Several acridid species can become agricultural pests, and a subset, known as locusts, can exhibit gregarious swarming behavior that leads to extensive vegetation loss over large areas.