Phalangopsinae, occasionally known as spider crickets, are a subfamily of
crickets in the family
Phalangopsidae.[1] Members of Phalangopsinae are found worldwide in
tropical and
subtropical regions. Most
species in the subfamily are
nocturnal and can be found in rocky areas, near fallen wood, and the understory of
forests.[2] Some species are gregarious, gathering in large numbers.
Taxonomy
Placement of Phalangopsinae and its genera has been controversial, with the group previously being placed family
Gryllidae.[2] The Orthoptera Species File[1] currently lists the following tribes and genera:
Endacustini
Auth.: Gorochov, 1986; distribution: Australia and SW Pacific islands
^
abHeads, S.W. (2010). "The first fossil spider cricket (Orthoptera: Gryllidae:Phalangopsinae): 20 million years of troglobiomorphosis or exaptation in the dark?". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 158 (1): 56–65.
doi:
10.1111/j.1096-3642.2009.00587.x.