Download 1 Grasshopper Introduction to Insects I. Classification Domain

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Grasshopper
Introduction to Insects
I. Classification
Domain
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Genus
Species
Animalia
Insecta
Orthoptera
Romalea
microptera
Lubber grasshopper
Romalea microptera
II. Characteristics of Insects
A.
1. Head
2. Thorax
3. Abdomen
B. Legs-3 pairs and segmented
C.
D. Wings
1. Most have 2 pairs
2. Flies have 1 pair
3. Ants –no wings
E. Exoskeleton
III. Grasshopper characteristics
A.
1. Head
a. Antennae shorter than their body
b.
-cut and tears food
-herbivores
c. Compound eyes-2
d.
-in between compound eyes
2. Thorax
a. Appendages are attached
b.
-Noise made by grasshoppers
~
~rub leg to wings
~rub leg to abdomen
~
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-spikes on legs used for holding onto plants etc.
c.
-large upper wings for flight and protection of membranous wings
below
3. Abdomen
a.
-circular area on sides of the first abdominal segment
-used for hearing /senses
b.
c. Spiracles
-on each segment
d. Female has much longer abdomen
e. Ovipositers
-Females use this to bury their eggs
B.
1. Head
a. Simple brain
b.
2. Thorax
a. Crop-stores food
b.
c. Gastric caeca-releases enzymes
d. Nerve cord-ventral
e.
3. Abdomen
a. stomach
b.
c. colon/rectum
d. anus
e. Hearts-dorsal
f. Malphigian tubes-collect waste from the blood (like kidneys)
g.
C. Diet and digestion
1.
2. Prefer grasses, leaves and cereal crops like wheat, corn, etc.
3.
Ex. Mandibles chew plants
4. Strong digestive enzymes released to help breakdown plant matter
5.
a. Uric acid
b. Urea
c.
d. Converts waste to dry pellets to conserve water
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D.
1. More advanced than jellyfish
2. Sense organs near the exterior in the form of tiny hairs
-dense on the antennae, mouth and near the posterior
-Tympanic membrane for sound reception
3.
E. Circulation and respiration
1.
a. blood NOT enclosed in vessels
b. One large vessel open on both ends
c. Heart in the middle of the vessel towards the posterior
d. Pushes blood forward and it filters back through tissues
e. Brings wastes to malphigian tubes
f.
2. Respiration
a. Gas comes in/out through spiracles in the abdomen
b. Gasses travel through the body by way of tracheal tubes
IV.
A. Mating
B. Molt to grow larger
1.
2. Swallow air to build up pressure to split the old cut and make room
for larger exoskeleton
C.
1. Positive
a. Grasshopper droppings (poo) add fertilizer to the soil
b. Food for birds and other arthropods
2.
a. Crop damage
b. Loss of plants
D.
V. Fun facts about grasshoppers
What time of year do grasshopper eggs hatch?
Warm weather causes hatching and turn into nymphs
It takes
Incomplete metamorphosis
What sex causes all the noise?
________________ make noise by rubbing their back legs together called stridulation.
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How far can a grasshopper hop?
Some grasshoppers can leap over
What do grasshoppers eat?
They eat plants and predators that include birds, beetles, rodents, _______________________.
What body part can move on its own when detached from the body?
Grasshopper’s ____________ can walk on their own even when detached from the insect’s body!
What part of the grasshopper is eaten is some countries?
They are eaten as food in many parts of the world. They can be ground, _______, roasted, boiled
and dipped in honey. They can be jellied and ________________ covered which is quite a delicacy.
In 1874 a Church in Kansas was built during a grasshopper plague so thousands of
grasshoppers got mixed into the mortar of the buildings foundation!