The grasshopper's abdomen is free of appendages except for
those at the posterior end.
These are used in mating and egg-laying. Because of the relatively small head
and
muscular thorax, most of the grasshopper's bodily functions are controlled
in the
abdomen. It contains the digestive tract which is divided into three parts:
the
fore-gut, mid-gut and hind-gut. The fore-gut actually starts at the mouth
and
runs on as a narrow oesophagus which, in turn, leads to the crop. The crop
is a
large sac in the thorax that serves as food storage that the grasshopper can
enjoy
at its leisure. The crop is lined with spiney ridges which serve to shread
the food.
The mid-gut is also the stomach. They're the same thing. It lies mostly in
the abdomen.