Ctenoptilus (SciiFii)

The boghopper (Ctenoptilus palus) is a species of Archaeorthopteran insect that originally lived in what is now China during the Carboniferous period as an extinct species, Ctenoptilus elongatus, and the genus itself was once extinct, but has since been brought back from extinction by SciiFii and now exists both in Paleozoic Park in Downey, California, and as a common exotic pet, although there are feral populations of boghoppers living in southern Florida, most likely due to accidental pet releases. The closest living relatives of Archaeorthopteran insects, including the boghoppers, are grasshoppers, crickets, and locusts. The boghopper is about 32 millimeters (1.2 inches) long when fully grown and, unlike its native modern relatives, is incapable of hopping with its hind legs. The boghopper is an omnivore and feeds primarily on other (living and dead) insects and spiders, as well as horsetails, ferns, cycads, and leaves. Female boghoppers have long ovipositors used for laying eggs into soft wood, moss and soil. Palps and ovipositor are used to find a suitable spot, as the correct texture are a prerequisite for egg-laying, they are particularly choosy on the spot, often testing before selecting. There are maximum of twelve eggs laid in the same spot. Oviposition reach its peak between May and July, and hatching usually peak between January and March. Compound eyes of the embryo become visible through the chorion during embryo development stage. A dark brown cap appear at the vegetal pole of the egg just before hatching. Sometime the chorion becomes transparent and the embryo can be seen quite clearly through it. The number of pre-adult instars is variable both inter- and intraspecifically. The conservation status of the boghoppers in the wild is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the boghopper's wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities.