LIFE PROCESSES IN A GRASSHOPPER

Description of the life processes in a grasshopper

1. LIFE PROCESSES IN A GRASSHOPPER BY ABDUL HAMEED ABUBAKAR [email protected]

2. GRASSHOPPER Grasshoppers are herbivorous chewing insects mostly found in green vegetation. There are several species in Africa but the most common one is the variegated grasshopper. Other species in Africa are rice grasshopper, field grasshopper etc Variegated grasshopper Field grasshopper Rice grasshopper

3. GRASSHOPPER Habitat – Found in green vegetation Mode of feeding – Herbivorous Classification : Kingdom Animalia Phylum Arthropoda Class I nsecta Order Orthoptera The characteristics of orthopterans include i . elongated hindlegs ii. their legs are adapted for jumping/ hopping iii. they have chewing mouthparts iv. the first and third thoracic segments are enlarged etc

4. GRASSHOPPER Other orthopterans include locusts and crickets. Most of the features of grasshoppers will apply to locusts and crickets. LOCUST CRICKET

5. GRASSHOPPER Like all insects, grasshoppers have three body divisions, Head Thorax Abdomen HEAD The head of a grasshopper is placed vertical to the body and faces downward. The head bears i . chewing mouth parts adapted to chewing green vegetation ii. a pair of usually short antennae. Crickets have a longer antennae. The antennae senses touch, chemicals and vibrations. iii. a pair of large compound eyes for vision

6. GRASSHOPPER HEAD

7. THORAX The thorax comes immediately after the head and is joined to the head by a short neck. The thorax is divided into three Prothorax bears a pair of legs, the fore legs Mesothorax bears of pair legs, mid legs and a pair of wings , the forewings Metathorax bears of a pair of hind legs and a pair of wings , the hind wings The forewings, known as tegmina , are narrow and leathery while the hindwings are large and membranous, the veins providing strength.

8. LEGS The first 2 pairs of legs , the fore legs and mid legs are short and used mainly for walking and holding prey. The legs are terminated by claws for gripping. The hind leg is elongated and powerful. The femur of the hind leg is robust and greatly enlarged for jumping/hopping. FEMUR

9. ABDOMEN The abdomen has eleven segments The first segment contains a hearing system known as the tympanum. This is used to detect sound. The abdominal segments bear a pair of spiracles each. The ninth abdominal segment bears a pair of cerci The tenth and eleventh segments house the reproductive organs. Female grasshoppers are normally larger than males, with short ovipositors. The ovipositor is a tube-like organ used by insects for laying eggs

10. LIFE CYCLE OF A GRASSHOPPER Males usually make noises by rubbing the hind legs against the forewings. This noise is called stridulation. These sounds are produced mainly by the males to attract females. After mating, the female of most species digs a hole with her ovipositor and lays a batch of eggs in a pod in the ground near food plants, generally in the summer. After laying the eggs, she covers the hole with soil and litter. Grasshoppers undergo incomplete metamorphosis. The eggs hatch into nymphs which are wingless and short in length. The nymph sheds its exoskeleton and will usually have six instars before finally becoming an adult. Grasshoppers are usually solitary insects while locusts are gregarious ( they swarm in groups in search of food)

11. LIFE CYCLE OF A GRASSHOPPER Male and female mating Female laying fertilized eggs using ovipositor Eggs laid in group Nymph of grasshopper is small and wingless Adult grasshopper

12. ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF GRASSHOPPERS 1. They serve as food to wild life 2. They are a delicacy in several countries 3. They can cause damage to vegetation 4. Locusts can cause huge damage to crops