7种新疆草原蝗虫口器有明显差异,主要体现在上颚切齿和臼齿的形状、长度及排列方式等。根据上颚特征及差异,将意大利蝗Calliptamus italicus italicus和朱腿痂蝗Bryodema gebleri gebleri的上颚归属于齿型,西伯利亚蝗Gomphocerus sibiricus和黑条小车蝗Oedaleus decorus划分为磨型,而蓝斑翅蝗Oedipoda coerulescens、红斑翅蝗Obdipoda miniata miniata和黑腿星翅蝗Calliptamus barbarus cephalotes则属于中间型。蝗虫上颚齿型不同与其不同寄主植物选择有密切关系,齿型蝗虫嗜食纤维素含量少的菊科、十字花科和紫草科植物;磨型蝗虫则嗜食纤维素含量较多的禾本科、莎草科植物。
Seven grasshoppers species in the Xinjiang grasslands were classified into three types on the basis of mandible shape. Calliptamus italicus italicus and Bryodema gebleri gebleri had incisor-like mandibles, Gomphocerus sibiricus and Oedaleus decorus had the molar-like mandibles,and the other species had mandibles intermediate in shape between incisors and molars. These differences in the shape of mandibles are related to the host plants of each group. Grasshoppers with incisor-like mandibles prefer plants with less cellulose whereas those with molar-like mandibles prefer plants with more cellulose.