Electrotettix is a genus of extinct pygmy grasshoppers belonging to the family Tetrigidae. It is known from fossilized specimens discovered in Dominican amber, which dates to the Miocene epoch, approximately 18 to 20 million years ago.
Taxonomy and Etymology
The genus was first described in 2014 by paleontologists Sam W. Heads, M. Jared Thomas, and Yinan Wang in the journal ZooKeys. The name Electrotettix is derived from the Greek words elektron (meaning "amber") and tettix (meaning "grasshopper" or "cicada").
The type species, Electrotettix attenboroughi, was named in honor of the British naturalist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough. The naming was intended to recognize Attenborough's lifelong commitment to natural history and his specific interest in amber fossils.
Morphology and Description
Electrotettix is distinguished from other genera in the subfamily Cladonotinae by its unique morphological characteristics. Unlike many contemporary members of this subfamily, which are frequently wingless, Electrotettix possesses both fully developed hind wings and tegmina (modified leathery front wings).
The specimens identified are small, measuring approximately 8 millimeters in length. They exhibit a distinctively granular integument and a pronotal shape characteristic of pygmy grasshoppers. The presence of wings in this fossil genus suggests that it represents an evolutionary stage or a specific lineage that retained flight capabilities while other related groups transitioned toward wing reduction or loss.
Paleoecology
The specimens were found in amber deposits in the Dominican Republic, indicating that Electrotettix inhabited the humid, tropical forest environments of the Caribbean during the Miocene. Based on the behavior and diet of extant pygmy grasshoppers, it is inferred that Electrotettix likely fed on mosses, algae, or fungi found on the forest floor or on tree bark.
The preservation of these insects in amber has provided researchers with a high degree of anatomical detail, allowing for a better understanding of the evolutionary history and diversification of the Orthoptera order in the Neotropics.
