44 Other Orthopteroid Orders

Embioptera

The Embioptera (“embio” = “lively”, referring to the speed of movement of the wings), or webspinners, are found in tropical and subtropical regions. They can fly both forwards and backwards. Adults have enlarged front tarsi, from which they can produce silk.

Zoraptera

The Zoraptera (“zora” = “pure”, “aptera” = “wingless”) do not have a common name. When first discovered, this was thought to be an order with only wingless insects. Winged, or alate, forms were found later. The order contains a single tropical and subtropical family, with one genus and 34 species. All are fairly small, ~3mm, and gregarious. Their relationships, phylogeny, and ecology are not well-understood.

Grylloblattodea

The Grylloblattodea, or rock crawlers, are found only at high elevations and in cave habitats. They are active only in the cold. As the weather warms seasonally, they will burrow down to the permafrost layer.

Mantophasmatodea

The Mantophasmatodea, are commonly known as the gladiators or heelwalkers. The order is restricted to South Africa, and was first described in 2002. They are sometimes grouped with the Grylloblattodea as suborders of Notoptera: they are evidently closely related.