The chromosome numbers of fifteen species of Brazilian tettigonids are reported in the present paper. Anaulacomera dimidiata, A. horti, A. sp. 1, A. sp. 2, Dysonia elegans, Diplophyllus acreanus, Phylophyllia guttulata and Topana aquillari all have 2 n (d) = 31 chromosomes, whereas 2 n (d) = 29 were found in Viadana longicercata, Phaneroptera quinquisignata, Phaneropterops piracicabensis and in the species 'numbered 583. In Posidippus eitrifolius specimens with 2 n (d) = 24 and 2 n (d) = 25 were found in two different populations. Prosagoga species show 2 n (d) = 17 and the species numbered 752 has males with 2 n=39. Within the super-family Tettigonioidea the family Phaneropteridae is characterized by a variation in its chromosome number that extends from 2 n (d) = 16 to 2 n (d) = 39. The chromosomal mechanisms involved in the karyotype evolution of the family Phaneropteridae are discussed.