The Grasshopper Classification Domain Kingdom Phylum Subphylum Class

The Grasshopper

Classification Domain: Kingdom: Phylum: Subphylum: Class: Order: Genus: Eukarya Animalia Arthropoda Uniramia Insecta Orthoptera Romalea

General Characteristics • • Typical insect Head: specializes in sensory perception Thorax: specializes in movement Abdomen: specializes in reproduction • Chitinous exoskeleton…… Strong & Light

‘Hoppers feed on grass blades… Have adapted mouthparts…. . Labrum: Keeps grass blade at right angle to jaws (mandibles) Maxillae: 2 nd set of jaws… holds & cuts food Labium: Lower lip…. Holds food between jaws Locusts (migratory grasshoppers) cause great crop destruction

Appendages of movement on abdomen (muscular). Anterior to posterior…… Prothorax: Mesothorax: Metathorax: 1 st pair of walking legs 1 st pair of wings, 2 nd pair of walking legs 2 nd pair of wings, jumping legs

• Long & Narrow FOREWINGS stiff. Cover and protect delicate hind wings. Also provide lift. • HINDWINGS: thin membrane, many “veins. ” • Spines, hooks, barbs, pads on each “foot” (tarsus) for traction (gripping).

Nutrition Salivary glands moisten food at mouth for easy passage to esophagus. Crop. Gizzard (contains sharp, chitinous teeth – shreds food). Midgut, gastric caeca. Digested food through midgut wall to coelom (body cavity). Undigested food to hindgut (colon & rectum). Malpighian tubules: remove nitrogenous wastes from blood.

Circulation Open circulatory system Tubular, dorsal heart. Very similar to crayfish. Ostia, aorta, sinuses.

Respiration 10 abdominal segments (upper & lower plates) joined together by a flexible membrane. Allows segments to contract & expand (pump). Spiracles: Tiny openings. 10 pair. Lead to trachea (air tube). Trachea form a complex network internally. Air pumped into and out of ‘hopper by movements of abdomen & wings

Nervous System Tympanum: External ears Antennae: sense touch & smell 3 Simple eyes (Ocelli) 1 pair Compound eyes Brain: fused ganglia

Reproduction Dioecious (separate males/females). Sexual reproduction, internal fertilization. Ovipositors at posterior end of female’s abdomen used to dig a hole for the eggs. Lay over 100 eggs Spring hatching