Orthoptera are an order of insects that includes grasshoppers, locusts, crickets, and katydids. They are chiefly recognized by their powerful hind legs for jumping, chewing mouthparts, and— in many species—wings that produce sound or help them move.
What the name Orthoptera means
The name Orthoptera comes from Greek roots often translated as “straight wings,” a reference to the way many members hold their forewings along the body. Those front wings are usually narrow and firm, while the hind wings, when present, are broader and folded beneath them. Wing shape varies, however, and some orthopterans have reduced wings or none at all.
Orthoptera is a taxonomic order, a grouping used by biologists to organize related animals. Its members are insects, so they have the basic insect body plan: a head, thorax, and abdomen; six legs; a pair of antennae; and an external skeleton. The order contains many different forms, from small crickets in leaf litter to large grasshoppers in open grassland.
The main groups: grasshoppers, crickets, and katydids
Orthoptera is commonly divided into two major suborders. Caelifera includes grasshoppers and locusts. Ensifera includes crickets, katydids, and related insects such as wētā. The groups differ in several typical features, although individual species do not always fit a simple field-guide rule.
- Grasshoppers and locusts: Usually have relatively short, sturdy antennae and are active by day in many habitats. Their hind legs are conspicuously adapted for jumping.
- Crickets: Often have long, fine antennae and a rounded body. Many are most active at night and make familiar chirping sounds.
- Katydids: Commonly have long antennae and leaf-like bodies or wings that help them blend into vegetation. Many produce calls after dark.
Locusts are not a separate order from grasshoppers. The word refers to grasshopper species that can undergo a change in behavior and appearance when conditions favor crowding. In some species, crowded individuals become more likely to gather and move in groups, potentially forming large swarms. Most grasshoppers do not form locust swarms.
How their bodies work
The enlarged hind legs are one of the best-known orthopteran features. Strong muscles in the thorax and legs store and release force for a jump, allowing many species to escape a threat or cross a gap quickly. Jumping is useful, but it is not universal: some orthopterans rely more on walking, climbing, camouflage, or flight.
Orthopterans have chewing mouthparts. Many eat leaves, grasses, seeds, or other plant material, but diets vary. Some crickets and katydids also consume fungi, decaying matter, or small animals. Because species differ, it is inaccurate to describe every member of the order as exclusively plant-eating or as a crop pest.
Like other insects, orthopterans breathe through openings along the body called spiracles, connected to a network of air tubes. They have an external skeleton that provides support and protection. Since this outer covering does not expand continuously, a growing insect must shed it in a process called molting.
Wings, sound, and hearing
Many crickets and katydids make sound by rubbing body parts together, a process known as stridulation. In the common arrangement, a roughened area on one wing is drawn across a scraper on the other. The resulting vibration produces a call. Grasshoppers often make sounds in different ways, including rubbing a hind leg against a wing or snapping their wings in flight. Sound-producing methods vary across the order.
Calls can help an insect attract a mate or communicate with others of its species. Their pitch and rhythm may also help listeners distinguish one kind of insect from another. Many sound-producing orthopterans detect airborne sound with specialized hearing organs. In crickets these are typically found on the front legs; in grasshoppers, hearing organs are commonly located on the abdomen.
Not every orthopteran is conspicuously noisy. Some species make faint calls, call only under particular conditions, or do not produce the familiar sounds people associate with the group. A quiet insect may still be an orthopteran, and a sound heard outdoors cannot always be identified from its rhythm alone.
Life cycle and development
Orthoptera generally develop through incomplete metamorphosis. Rather than passing through a worm-like larval stage and a pupal stage, a young insect hatches as a nymph that resembles a smaller, wingless adult. It grows through successive molts, gradually developing adult features and, in winged species, wings. The exact schedule depends on species and environmental conditions.
Adults reproduce by laying eggs, often in soil, plant material, or another protected place. Some grasshoppers use an egg-laying structure at the end of the abdomen to place eggs in the ground. Young nymphs may emerge when conditions are suitable, but seasonal timing differs by climate and species. In colder regions, many species survive unfavorable seasons as eggs; others have different strategies.
Where they live and what they do in ecosystems
Orthoptera occur in a wide range of environments, including grasslands, forests, wetlands, deserts, and gardens. A particular species may favor a specific plant community or moisture level. Some are well camouflaged among leaves, while others live on the ground or in burrows. Their range and seasonal activity depend on local habitat and climate.
They are important parts of food webs. Birds, reptiles, amphibians, small mammals, spiders, and other insects eat them. By feeding on plants and other organic material, orthopterans also influence vegetation and help transfer energy through ecosystems. Their effects are not always harmful: ordinary feeding is part of natural ecological processes, while unusually abundant populations of certain species can cause serious damage to crops or pasture.
Orthopterans can also be useful indicators for naturalists studying habitats. Different species have different environmental needs, so changes in which species are present may reflect shifts in vegetation or local conditions. Identification usually requires more than noticing a jump or a chirp; body shape, antennae, wings, location, and season can all help.
How to tell an orthopteran from similar insects
Several insects jump, chirp, or have long hind legs, so one feature alone may not settle an identification. A useful first step is to look for the combination of six legs, an insect body, chewing mouthparts, and the characteristic hind-leg build. Then compare the antennae and wings.
- Grasshoppers usually have shorter antennae than crickets and katydids, though exceptions occur.
- Crickets often have long antennae, a compact body, and prominent hind legs.
- Katydids commonly have long antennae and wings shaped or colored like leaves.
- Other jumping insects, such as some leafhoppers, are not orthopterans; their body form and wings differ.
These are practical clues, not a substitute for a regional identification guide. Juveniles can look different from adults, and females and males of the same species may differ in size, sound, or body shape. A photograph that shows the insect’s whole body and its habitat is often more useful than a close-up of one feature.
Common misconceptions
A frequent misconception is that every grasshopper is a locust. Locusts are particular grasshopper species with the capacity for a crowding-related phase change; ordinary grasshoppers do not automatically become locusts simply because many are seen together.
Another mistake is assuming all orthopterans are pests. Some species can damage crops when abundant, but most encounters with a single cricket or grasshopper are simply encounters with wildlife. The order also includes predators or omnivores, so diet cannot be inferred from the group name alone.
Finally, “straight wings” should not be treated as a perfect diagnostic test. Wing structure and posture vary, and some members have short or absent wings. Classification relies on a suite of anatomical traits rather than one literal reading of the name.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are orthoptera insects?
Yes. Orthoptera is an order within the class Insecta. Its members have six legs and the other basic features of insects.
What animals belong to Orthoptera?
Grasshoppers, locusts, crickets, and katydids are familiar examples. The order also includes other, less widely known relatives.
Are crickets and grasshoppers related?
Yes. Both belong to Orthoptera, though grasshoppers are in Caelifera and crickets are in Ensifera.
Do all orthopterans make noise?
No. Many species communicate with sound, but calling varies. Some make sounds that are difficult for people to hear, and others are not known for the familiar chirping calls.
Are locusts just grasshoppers?
Locusts are grasshoppers, but the term is used for species that can shift into a more social, swarming phase under suitable conditions. It does not describe every grasshopper.
Why the group matters
Orthoptera brings together insects that are easy to notice but more varied than their shared jumping ability suggests. Their anatomy, development, calls, diets, and ecological roles explain why grasshoppers, crickets, and katydids are grouped together—and why identifying one accurately can require looking beyond a single trait. In short, orthopterans are a diverse order of mostly jumping, chewing insects that play important roles as plant feeders, predators or scavengers, and prey.