The Protease Activity in the Digestion Tract of Schistocerca americana (Drury) (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

The insect digestive tract has been identified to contain three major part identified as foregut, midgut and hindgut. These three region partake in the digestion of food but not at equal levels. A grasshopper identified as Schistocerca americana was used to determine the highest levels of digestion via protease activity in the alimentary tract. The grasshopper was given wheat and left to digest it. Afterwards the digestive tract were removed and then divided by each distinct section and place in a spectrophotometer. Protease activity showed higher abundance in the fore gut than mid or hindgut concluding to higher digestion levels in the foregut