Scanning Electron Microscopy of Orthopteran Mandibles: Comparative Morphology and Functional Adaptations across Trophic Guilds in a Temperate Grassland Ecosystem

Mandibular structure of Orthopteran species possess remarkable variations and reflecting functional adaptations to diverse dietary niches. However, detailed ultrastructural examinations of these adaptations remain limited. The present study focused on the investigation of the mandibular functional morphology and ultrastructure of nine Orthopteran species from five families (Acrididae, Pyrgomorphidae, Tetrigidae, Tettigoniidae and Gryllidae) and eight subfamilies (Oxyinae, Acridini, Pyrgomorphinae, Oedipodinae, Tetriginae, Phaneropterinae, Conocephalinae, and Gryllinae) collected from grasslands in Sendai, Japan.,Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to examine mandibular dimensions (Length and width) and the organization of incisor and molar regions in order to assess interspecific variation and potential differences between sexes. The results demonstrate that mandibular structure is highly species-specific to match the dietary demands. Subtle differences between male and female mandibles were observed in several species, particularly in overall size and robustness. However, these differences was treated with caution because of the limited sample size.,The findings highlight the importance of mandibular ultrastructure in understanding the functional adaptation of Orthopteran species to feeding habit and provide a morphological basis for linking feeding ecology with structural specialization.