Dissection of an Orthoptera (Grasshopper) 11/4/10

Method-Two different kinds of female Orthoptera (Grasshopper) were examined. Both Orthopteras were measured head to abdomen with a ruler in centimeters. Each Orthoptera was 4-5 centimeters long. It’s abdomen was placed under the microscope to be examined. The forewing was broke off and examined. Next the hind wing was broke off and examined. The hind wing was bigger, more delicate and laid closer near the abdomen than the forewing. A microscope was used to examined a wing, veins in the wing were seen in a crossing pattern. The orthoptera was turned over and 3 pairs of legs were examined. The Jumping leg was broke off and measured in centimeters with a ruler. One Orthoptera’s jumping leg was 4 centimeters long, the other Orthoptera’s jumping leg was 5 centimeters long. Part of the leg was a yellow-orange color. The leg was examined with a microscope. Lab students located simple eyes by using a Magnifying glass. The Orthopteras was laid on a dissecting pan and pinned down through the head with a dissecting pin. The lab students scraped away the dorsal wall from posterior end of the Orthoptera using a disposable scalpel. White eggs were discovered inside one of the Orthoptera and yellow eggs discovered inside other orthoptera. The head was removed by using disposable scalpel. A cut was made within the cephalic range. Ganglia was found which was brown in color.
Discussion- During the lab I learned, that the simple eyes are located directly above the compound eyes and to see them you have to use a magnifying glass. It took us about 10min and a lot of guessing to find both eyes. It was cool having two different kinds of Grasshoppers because we got different results with both of them. One of the grasshoppers had a yellow toned and the other was a green-grayish color. The yellow grasshopper had longer jumping legs than the gray one. Also after we scraped away the dorsal wall, the inside of the gray grasshopper had white eggs and the yellow grasshopper had yellow eggs. Over all the Lab was very fun and very informative.