Introduction: In this lab, you will observe the external anatomy of a preserved grasshopper, locate structures and label a diagram. Internal anatomy is optional and can be observed after you have completed the external anatomy of the grasshopper.

PreLab Questions (use your book or other references)

1. Grasshoppers belong to the Kingdom ___________________, the Phylum ___________________, the Subphylum ____________________________, and the Class ________________________________

2. Use what you know about classification to determine which of the following pairs is MOST closely related.
[ Grasshopper & Crayfish ] or [ Grasshopper & Spider ] or [ Grasshopper & Housefly ]

3. What kind of skeleton does a grasshopper have?______________________________

Anatomy of the Grasshopper - use specimens or pictures to examine a grasshopper, check the boxes as you complete each step.

checkbox5. Locate the segments on the abdomen. How many segments does your grasshopper have? ___________ Compare this number to other grasshoppers in the class. Do they all have the same number of segments? ________

checkbox6. Note the thorax. It is the center area to which all appendages attach. The hard covering of the thorax is called the carapace.

checkbox7. Locate the antenna. Is the antennae branched or unbranched? _____ How many antennae are there? ____

checkbox8. Locate the compound eyes. How many eyes does the grasshopper have? ______

checkbox9. Locate the grasshopper's legs.

To what part of the body are they attached? ____________ (head, thorax, or abdomen).
How many pairs of legs does the grasshopper have? ____________
How many jumping legs are there ? __________ How many walking legs? _______

grasshopper head

checkbox10. Notice the claws at the end of the legs. Do both sets of legs have these claws? ___

checkbox11. Locate the wings of the grasshopper. There are actually two sets of wings- one on the top and one underneath. The top wing is called the forewing and the bottom wing is called the hindwing. Which wing seems the most fragile? ____________________

12. Turn the grasshopper over and view the mouthparts.

checkboxFind the outside most plate (like an upper lip) which is called the labrum, its opposite is the lower plate (lower lip) called the labium.
checkbox The moveable mouthparts that look like antennae are the maxilla. Locate them.
checkbox The mandible is located under the maxilla and is used for chewing.
        Does the mandible open from top to bottom or from side to side? ________

Label the labrum, maxilla, and mandibles on the picture. Also label the compound eyes and antennae.

checkbox13. Raise the wings to find the disk shaped tympanum underneath. The tympanum functions as an eardrum. How many tympanum are found on the grasshopper? ____

checkbox14. Look at the abdomen and fine the row of holes along it; these are the spiracles and they function in respiration (breathing). How many spiracles do you count? _______

checkbox15. The sex of the grasshopper can be determined by looking at the lest segment of the abdomen. Females have a large pair of pointy structures called the ovipositor, which are used to deposit eggs into soil. Is you grasshopper a male or a female? ________


boxWalking Leg boxJumping Leg boxClaws boxCarapace
boxHindwing boxForewing boxTympanum boxSpiracles
boxAntenna boxAbdomen boxLabrum boxHead
*Choose a color for each structure, color the box and the structure

grasshopper anatomy