Pyrgomorphidae

Pyrgomorphidae is a family of grasshoppers in the order Orthoptera; it is the only family in the superfamily Pyrgomorphoidea. Pyrgomorphidae is found worldwide in tropical and warm temperate regions (though none are from US mainland), but the vast majority of the family's approximately 500 species are from Africa, Asia and Australia. Their name is probably derived from pyrgos (Greek: Πύργος) meaning "tower": a reference to the form (morph) of the head in the type genus Pyrgomorpha and other genera.
They may sometimes be known as "gaudy grasshoppers", due to the striking, bright aposematic colouration of a number of genera, warning of their toxicity. However, about 90% of the species in the family are harmless and well-camouflaged, with a few, notably Sphenarium, even caught for human consumption.
Subfamilies and tribes
Incomplete list of genera and species:
Subfamily Orthacridinae
All tribes and selected genera only are shown here:
Tribe Brunniellini Kevan, 1963 - Philippines
Tribe Chapmanacridini Kevan & Akbar, 1964 - W. Africa
Tribe Fijipyrgini Kevan, 1966 - Fiji
Tribe Geloiini Bolívar, 1905 - Madagascar
Tribe Gymnohippini Kevan & Akbar, 1964 - Madagascar
Tribe Ichthiacridini Kevan, Singh & Akbar, 1964 - Mexico
Tribe Ichthyotettigini Kevan, Singh & Akbar, 1964 - Mexico
Tribe Malagasphenini Kevan & Akbar, 1964 - Madagascar
Tribe Mitricephalini Kevan & Akbar, 1964 - Malesia
Tribe Nereniini Kevan, 1964 - Vietnam, PNG
Genus Nerenia: Nerenia francoisi Bolívar, 1905 (monotypic)
Genus Megradina: Megradina festiva Storozhenko, 2004 (monotypic)
Tribe Orthacridini Bolívar, 1905 - E. Africa, Madagascar, India, Indo-China
Genus Kuantania Miller, 1935
Genus Neorthacris Kevan & Singh, 1964
Genus Orthacris Bolívar, 1884
Tribe Popoviini Kevan & Akbar, 1964 - E. Africa to India
Genus Popovia Uvarov, 1952
Tribe Psednurini Burr, 1904 - Australia
Tribe Sagittacridini Descamps & Wintrebert, 1966 - Madagascar
Tribe Verduliini Kevan & Akbar, 1964 - Philippines to PNG
Subfamily Pyrgomorphinae
Some notable genera and species are shown here:
Tribe Atractomorphini - Africa, Asia, Australia
Genus Atractomorpha
Tribe Chlorizeinini Kevan & Akbar, 1964 - Africa, Asia
Genus Chlorizeina Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1893
Tribe Chrotogonini Bolívar, 1904 - Africa, Asia
Tribe Desmopterini - W. Africa, Asia, Australia
Genus Desmoptera: including Desmoptera truncatipennis
Tribe Dictyophorini - Africa
Genus Dictyophorus: including Dictyophorus spumans
Tribe Monistriini - Australia
Genus Monistria: including Monistria cicatricosa and Monistria pustulifera
Tribe Omurini Kevan, 1961 - South America
Tribe Petasidini - Australia
Genus Petasida: including Petasida ephippigera (Leichhardt's grasshopper)
Tribe Phymateini - Africa (incl. Madagascar), China
Genus Phymateus
Genus Zonocerus
Tribe Poekilocerini Burmeister, 1840 - Africa, India, Indo-China, Malesia, PNG
Genus Poekilocerus Serville, 1831
Tribe Psednurini - Australia
Genus Psednura
Tribe Pseudomorphacridini Kevan & Akbar, 1964 - Indo-China
Genus Pseudomorphacris Carl, 1916
Tribe Pyrgomorphini - Africa, W. Asia through to India
Genus Pyrgomorpha Serville, 1838
Genus Pyrgomorphella Bolívar, 1904
Tribe Schulthessiini Kevan & Akbar, 1964 - Madagascar
Tribe Sphenariini Bolívar, 1884 - Central America, Africa, China
Genus Sphenarium Charpentier, 1845
Tribe Tagastini Bolívar, 1905 - SE Asia
Genus Tagasta Bolívar, 1905
Tribe Taphronotini Bolívar, 1904 - Africa, India, Indo-China
Genus Aularches Stål, 1873: monotypic Aularches miliaris
References
External links
Pyrgomorphoidea at the Global Biodiversity Information Facility Portal
Orthoptera families
Taxa named by Carl Brunner von Wattenwyl