Description of the life processes in a grasshopper

1. LIFE PROCESSES IN A GRASSHOPPER
BY ABDUL HAMEED ABUBAKAR
abdhamdabkr2019@gmail.com

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 Insecta
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,
i. Head
ii. Thorax
iii. 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
i. Prothorax bears a pair of legs, the fore legs
ii. Mesothorax bears of pair legs, mid legs and a pair of wings , the forewings
iii. 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

12. 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)

13. 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

14. 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