Taxonomic Value of the Cuticular Structures of the Stomodeum in Acridomorpha (Orthoptera)

Cuticular structures of the stomodeum in insects, such as ridges, teeth and spines, have been found to have value as systematic characters in some insect groups. This study evaluates the usefulness of these characters for the identification of species belonging to the orthopteran families Acrididae, Eumastacidae, Proscopiidae, Ommexechidae, Pauliniidae, Romaleidae and Tristiridae. Characters examined were the pattern of stomodeal spines in crop and proventriculus in zones I to IV, the arrangement of the ridges of the intima, and the shape and size of the spines. These cuticular structures were found to have considerable value as taxonomic characters.