SA Travelogue and Diary: Incredible eyes

For interesting information on flowers, trees and plants please click on this link: http://natureswow2.blogspot.com/

For the identification of insects and other fauna and flora of South Africa: please click on the following links:
Insects and related species: Antlions - Ants - Bees - Beetles - Bugs - Butterflies, Moths and Caterpillars - Centipedes and Millipedes - Cockroaches - Crickets - Dragonflies and Damselflies - Grasshoppers and Katydids - Mantis - Stick Insects - Ticks and Mites - Wasps - Woodlice
Plants, Trees, Flowers: (Note: Unless plants fall into a specific species such as Cacti, they have been classified by their flower colour to make them easier to find) Bonsai - Cacti, Succulents, Aloes, Euplorbia - Ferns and Cycads - Flowers - Fungi, Lichen and Moss - Grass - Trees
Animals, Birds, Reptiles etc.: Animals, Birds, Fish and Crabs - Frogs - Lizards - Scorpions - Snails and Slugs - Snakes - Spiders - Tortoise, Turtles and Terrapins - Whipscorpions
Other photography: Aeroplanes - Cars and Bikes - Travel - Sunrise - Water drops/falls - Sudwala and Sterkfontein Caves etc.
Videos: YouTube

Friday, April 13, 2012

Incredible eyes

The grasshopper uses its two pair of eyes (the simple and compound) to see, the tympanum to hear sounds, palps to taste, the antennae for feeling and smelling. The five senses are sight, hearing, taste, touch, and scent.

Parts:
Antennae- detect odour and touch
Simple eyes- sense changes in light brightness
Compound eyes- sense movement and crude images
Mouth parts- designed for chewing

Palps- used for tasting
Wings- thin but rigid and veined
Tympanum- a round membrane designed for the grasshopper to detect sound waves
Spiracles- tiny holes that allows air to enter the trachea

Protection:
The grasshopper has a hard outer shell called an exoskeleton made of chitin, to protect it. It also preserves moisture.