Systematic position of the Hymenoptila Chopard and notes on the geographic history of Gryllomorphinae (Orthoptera: Gryllidae)

Abstract

The former genus Hymenoptila Chopard, 1943 (of mainly African distribution) is placed in the genus Gryllomorpha Fieber, 1853 as its third subgenus (stat. nov.). The following hypothesis about the history of distribution of Gryllomorphinae is proposed: originally, two tribes of this subfamily were geographically isolated from each other by Tethis Ocean (Petaloptilini in South Europe and Asia Minor; Gryllomorphini in North Africa including Arabian Peninsula); later, after the arising of terrestrial contacts between Africa and Eurasia, the Gryllomorphini penetrated to more northern and more eastern territories (Europe and other parts of Southwest Asia) by two ways; but the Petaloptilini was probably not able to go beyond the limits of Europe, Asia Minor and some nearest islands.