Preliminary investigation of the fossorial fore legs of Gryllotalpidae (Orthoptera) diversity driven by soil variation

Gryllotalpidae, or mole cricket, is a family of burrowing Orthoptera with a highly sclaritized pronotal thorax and a pair of specially modified digging fore legs. The fossorial fore legs play an important role in the construction and maintenance of burrows that allow for food scavenging along grass root systems and amplification of mating calls, important for sexual selection. We propose that due to the degree if sclerotization and hardening caused by mechanical stress, cuticular thickening and metal deposits will be seen in the fossorial fore legs. We will be using histology cross sections to investigate cuticular thickening and variations between individuals and species. This technique will also be used to analyze muscle configuration throughout the dactyl (i.e. claw). Geographic information system (GIS) data basing will be used to establish location/collection data points for each of the observed/collected specimens. This will allow for further analysis to compare the morphology of the fossorial fore leg cuticle in direct collaboration with soil type within each species territory.