Katydids, Crickets, and Allies

Ensifera is a suborder of insects that includes the various types of crickets and their allies, including true crickets, camel crickets, bush crickets or katydids, grigs, wētā, and Cooloola monsters. This and the suborder Caelifera (grasshoppers and their allies) make up the order Orthoptera. Unlike the Caelifera, the Ensifera contain numerous members that are partially carnivorous, feeding on other insects, as well as plants.

Fossils of the early stem-ensiferan Raphogla from the Early Permian around 290-275 million years ago indicate that the group had split from Caelifera by this time.

Ensifer is Latin for "sword bearer", and refers to the typically elongated and blade-like ovipositor of the females.