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Glite Dictionary
Orthoptera

Orthoptera

1 9.9
A group of insects like grasshoppers and crickets with straight wings and jumping back legs
  • noun
  • /ˌɔrθəˈpɪtərə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Ortoptera
  • Researchers are studying the sound patterns of Orthoptera to understand their communication methods.

Examples

  • During my hike, I observed several insects from the Orthoptera order jumping through the grass.

  • "It affects only insects of the group Orthoptera, like grasshoppers and locusts, and not honey bees, beetles, or other potentially beneficial species."

    Academic text (2004)

  • The order Orthoptera includes various species such as grasshoppers and crickets.

Surface Forms

Orthoptera singular
Orthopteras plural

Morphology

Orthoptera = ortho + ptera

A specialist taxonomic compound from Greek combining forms ('ortho-' 'ptera'); the components are not recognizable standalone English words for an average learner, so the meaning is not directly derivable.

Etymology

Orthoptera comes from two Greek parts: ortho- meaning 'straight' and -ptera meaning 'wings', the same -ptera you see in pterodactyl. So Orthoptera means 'straight-winged' insects, which fits grasshoppers and crickets with their long straight wings and strong back legs for jumping.