Daily Growth Layers for Determining the Age of Grasshopper Populations

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Abstract
In a number of exopterygote insects, the endocuticle continues to be laid down for a considerable period after ecdysis, and that there are differences in the endocuticle deposited in the daytime compared to night deposits. By making cross sections of the tibia by hand, and examining these by use of phase microscopy, it is possible to count the number of layers and hence to estimate the number of days since ecdysis in the insect. By investigation of last instar nymphs, at least with some species, it is possible to predict the time of major emergence of adults. The validity of the method was tested on a field population of a carnivorous long-horned grasshopper of Denmark, Decticus verrucivorus.

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