RESPIRATION 
21 
called protective coloration. The grasshopper is further 
protected by a pair of large eyes and by simple ears, which 
are located on the side of the body. By means of these 
sense organs, it becomes aware of the presence of enemies. 
The quickness of grasshoppers in jumping also helps them to 
escape being eaten> 
5. Food-Getting. — The grasshopper has little difficulty 
in finding its food. It eats leaves, and particularly the 
leaves of grass. It does 
not need a keen sense of 
smell, as does the bee, 
which must search for 
flowers. However, the 
grasshopper has special 
smelling organs located 
in its antennae (an-ten'e), 
those long feelers which 
grow out from the head 
like soft horns. 
The mouth parts which 
cut and chew the food 
consist of an upper lip 
and two teeth (mandibles, 
man'di-b’ls). The teeth 
are moved by powerful 
muscles which nearly fill 
the head. These mandibles work from side to side, instead 
of up and down as our teeth do. They are so effective 
that sometimes when grasshoppers become numerous they 
strip the grass of all its leaves, and even destroy growing 
fields of grain. 
6. Respiration. — All animals have some way of getting 
oxygen to every portion of their bodies and of getting rid 
of carbon dioxide. The grasshopper has no lungs such as 
ours, nor does it breathe through its mouth. On each side 
Figure 8. — The Lips and Teeth of the 
Grasshopper. 
These show special adaptations which 
explain their peculiar shape and position. 
See if you can find out how each part is 
used when the grasshopper is eating. 
