Mandible difference of seven dominant grasshopper species in Xinjiang grasslands
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Key Words： mouthparts, mandibles, host plants, grasshoppers
Abstract： Seven grasshoppers species in the Xinjiang grasslands were classified into three types on the basis of mandible shape. Calliptamus italicus italicus and Bryodema gebleri gebleri had incisor-like mandibles, Gomphocerus sibiricus and Oedaleus decorus had the molar-like mandibles, and the other species had mandibles intermediate in shape between incisors and molars. These differences in the shape of mandibles are related to the host plants of each group. Grasshoppers with incisor-like mandibles prefer plants with less cellulose whereas those with molar\|like mandibles prefer plants with more cellulose.