More than 2200 species of the wild flora and fauna photographed in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico and the surrounding area.
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Crickets of Zihuatanejo
INFRAORDER PAPILIONOIDEA
Trigonidiinae Trigs and Sword-tailed
Trigonidiinae (Subfamily)
-Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)
-Hexapods (Subphylum Hexapoda)
-Winged and Once-winged Insects (Subclass Pterygota)
-Grasshoppers, Crickets, and Katydids (Order Orthoptera)
-Katydids, Crickets, and Allies (Suborder Ensifera)
-Crickets (Infraorder Gryllidea)
-True Crickets and Allies (Superfamily Grylloidea)
-Trigs, Sword-tailed Crickets, and Ground Crickets (Family Trigonidiidae)
-Subfamily Trigonidiinae
Crickets of the subfamily Trigonidiinae, commonly called “trigs,” are a group of small crickets found in warm and temperate regions with many species in Central America. They are typically small and slender with well-developed wings, long antennae, and agile movements, and many species are more active on low vegetation than strictly on the ground. Trigs are especially notable for their songs: males produce clear, rhythmic trills or pulses that are often louder and more musical than those of other small crickets, sometimes forming a characteristic part of evening and nighttime soundscapes.
Diet
Trigonidiinae are small omnivorous crickets that feed on a mixture of plant material and other organic matter. Depending on the genus, they may consume leaves, seeds, flowers, fungi, algae, and small soft-bodied organisms.
Their feeding habits are closely associated with vegetation, where many species forage on leaves and stems.
Range
Trigonidiinae are found worldwide, with particularly high diversity in tropical and subtropical regions.
Trigonidiinae occur in Mexico, including tropical western Mexico, and suitable species can be encountered around Zihuatanejo.
Habitat
Most Trigonidiinae are associated with vegetation rather than open ground. They occur on grasses, herbs, shrubs, forest undergrowth, and trees, with many species favouring humid environments with abundant vegetation.
Around Zihuatanejo, suitable habitat includes tropical dry forest, forest edges, scrub, gardens, grasses, and dense herbaceous vegetation. Some species can be found several metres above the ground on shrubs and other plants.
Many species are active during the day and are agile runners, moving rapidly across leaves and stems.
Description
Trigonidiinae are generally very small, delicate crickets, commonly only a few millimetres long. They often have slender bodies, long antennae, prominent eyes, and relatively long legs.
Many species are brightly coloured or have contrasting markings, although brown, tan, green, and subdued forms also occur. Some have evolved patterns that resemble ants, spiders, or wasps.
The characteristic feature giving the group its common name is the female's sword-like ovipositor, which is used to insert eggs into plant tissue. Adhesive pads on the tarsi allow many species to run across leaves, including on their undersides.
Wing development varies among genera and species. Males of many species have modified forewings used in sound production, while some species have reduced wings or lack functional hind wings.