The Vault: Differential Grasshopper

"Differential Grasshopper? I came here under the impression there'd be no calculus!" Haha, don't worry. For one, I don't even understand calculus. For another, I'm speaking of Melanoplus differentialis, a large and very beautiful grasshopper. It's obvious that God put a lot of detail into its design, as He does with everything He creates.

Aren't those blue eyes exquisite? Unfortunately its wings are damaged; it looks as though they've been torn somehow. You can also see the black chevrons along its hind legs. Its curved cerci indicate that this grasshopper is male.

The previous photo provides a good view of the mouthparts. Here they are, labeled:

http://www.tutorvista.com/content/biology/biology-ii/nutrition/grasshopper-mouthparts.php

Here is a helpful diagram:

http://www.tutorvista.com/content/biology/biology-iii/animal-kingdom/phylum-arthropoda.php

This is an awesome site: http://www.ent.iastate.edu/ref/anatomy/ihop/. It's an interactive, virtual dissection!

If you want to read more about this species, check out:
http://bugguide.net/node/view/5380
http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/differential_grasshopper.htm
http://keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/grasshopper/nonkey/html/FactSheets/differen.htm (the map shows its range outside of the southeast but, evidently, it has moved into that area as well)