The Orthoptera are medium to large-sized insects with chewing mouthparts and usually four wings, the front pair being narrow and leathery. The hind wings are large and fold up like a fan under the front wings.
Metamorphosis is gradual, the life stages being the egg, nymph, and adult.
Most members of this order, including grasshoppers, katydids, tree crickets and walkingsticks, live out-of doors and feed on plants. However, some species, such as, some of the cockroaches, have adapted to live in-doors and are considered to be serious household pests. Praying mantids are beneficial in that they feed on other insects. Walkingsticks, camel crickets and some cockroaches are wingless. We hope you enjoy visiting our WWW site.