The life of Grasshopper
Arthropod dissection-PAPBio-3rd per
represented by: MOJDE YADOLLAHKHALES
Objectives
Grasshopper
In very young stage, the grasshopper has no wings. In later stages, wings are visible as small pads at end of thorax.
Food
Predators
Life cycle
Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Orthoptera
Family: Acrididae
Genus: Romalea
Species: microptera
Evolutionary relationships of grasshopper
Grasshopper dissection
Head
Compound eyes: 2, large lateral
Mouth parts : Labrum (upper lip), mandibles (jaws) below the labrum, maxillae located behind the mandibles to help cut & hold food and lower lip or labium
Thorax
6 jointed legs
Wings: fore-wings have a leathery appearance & protect the hind wings
Appendages present
Abandonment
The posterior section of the body containing the reproductive and digestive organs.
Respiratory system
Mechanism
The first four pairs of spiracles are involved in inspiration or drawing in of air that is oxygen-rich. This air passes through the trachea and the air sacs to reach the tracheoles.
The ends of the tracheoles are filled with fluid. This end enters into the tissue. The ends of the tracheoles are also devoid of cuticle and therefore the respiratory surface is very thin making the diffusion of oxygen into the cells easy. As respiration occurs in the cell, the products of respiration accumulate in the cell and this forces the fluid in the tracheoles to enter the tissue. The exit of fluid creates low pressure in the tubes and draws in more oxygen to the tissues where it is needed.
The carbon dioxide produced is detected by the chemoreceptors which make the muscles near the spiracles contract. This pushes the air out. The last six pairs of spiracles are involved in expiration of air.
Thus, in grasshopper there is ventilation or circulation of air as the oxygen-rich air is inhaled through the first four spiracles and the carbon dioxide-rich air is exhaled through the remaining six pairs of spiracles.In grasshopper, therefore, the respiratory system is independent of the circulatory system.
Interesting facts
- Although they eat many things, they still have preferences.
- Female digs hole with abdomen.
- Some grasshoppers spit a brown bitter liquid as a defensive behavior in response to being handled.
- Before molting, grasshoppers do not eat and become less active. During the molt, they swallow air to build up pressure to split the old cuticle.
Impact on ecosystem
Positive
As herbivores, grasshoppers link plants to the rest of the ecosystem. Frass (droppings) contribute to nutrient turnover by returning nutrients as fertilizer for the plants. They provide food for birds and other predators.
Negative
Sometimes some species of grasshopper occur in very large numbers and cause serious crop damage and loss of plants in pastures.