Name:____________ Date:_________________
Grasshopper Dissection
Introduction:
Insects are arthropods with jointed appendages, segmented bodies, and an exoskeleton composed of
chitin. Insects are in the class Insecta, & are the largest and most diverse group of animals on
earth..Insects have three body regions (head, thorax, & abdomen), 3 pairs of legs attached to the
thorax, a single pair of antenna attached to the head, mouthparts adapted for chewing or sucking,
and two pairs of wings. Some insects may have a single pair of wings or be wingless. Insect legs are
often adapted for digging, crawling, jumping, or swimming. The insects are mostly terrestrial; they
breathe air which enters small lateral openings on the body called spiracles and circulates in a system
of ducts to all organs and tissues. Their chewing or sucking mouth parts are adapted for feeding on
plant or animal materials.
Objective:
Identify & label the anatomy of a grasshopper
Materials:
Lab coat, goggles, dissecting pan, dissecting kit with forceps & scalpel, pins, magnifying glass,
preserved grasshopper
Safety:
Preservatives used on grasshopper can irritate your skin. Avoid touching your eyes while working with
the grasshopper
Procedure:
External Anatomy
1.
Place grasshopper in the dissecting pan. Touch the chitinous exoskeleton.
2. Observe that the body of the grasshopper is divided into 3 regions --- the head, the thorax,
and abdomen. Label these.
3. Using the hand lens, examine the head. Locate and draw
the following parts:
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Two long antennae- sensory organs for touch
located at top
Two large Compound eyes- located laterally,
sensory organ for vision
Three simple eyes or ocelli- between compound
eyes and at each antennae base, sensory organ
for vision
Name:____________ Date:_________________

Mouth parts - Labrum (upper lip), mandibles (jaws) below the labrum, maxillae
located behind the mandibles to help cut & hold food, and the lower lip or labium
4. Observe and label the thorax in your observations.
One pair of legs is attached to each segment. Forelegs,
or first two pairs of legs are for walking. Last pair
known as hind legs which are larger and used for
jumping. The coxa connects the femur (thickest part of
the leg) to the grasshopper’s body. A slender spiny tibia
connects femur to tarsal segments (lower part of the
leg)
5. Notice the wings. Forewings have a leathery appearance & protect the hind wings which are used
for flying.
6. Raise both pairs of wings and locate the first abdominal segment. Locate and label the drum shaped
tympanic membrane or eardrum. This is a sensory organ used for sound.
7. Using a magnifying glass, locate the spiracles or tiny pores for respiration on lateral side of the
abdominal segments. Label these openings into the gas exchange or respiratory system.
8. Determine if your grasshopper is a male or female by looking at the end of the abdomen.
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Females have a tapered abdomen that ends in a pointed egg laying tube called the
ovipositor. The claw like structure digs a hole where eggs are laid. Label it.
Male have a more rounded abdomen that turns upward.
Name:____________ Date:_________________
Grasshopper Dissection Questions
1. Describe the respiratory system of a grasshopper.
2. How do simple and compound eyes differ?
3. Compare and contrast the legs in terms of form and function.
4. How is the color of the grasshopper an adaptation to where it lives?
5. How is the grasshopper adapted to detect moving objects in the environment?
6. Of the three body regions of the grasshopper, which one is specialized for locomotion? Explain your
reasoning.
7. How can a grasshopper’s exoskeleton be both an advantage and a disadvantage?