The head of the grasshopper is a hard capsule that contains large muscles, which operate the chewing mouthparts, and the brain and subesophageal ganglion, which serve as the main centers of the nervous system. Prominent on the outside of the capsule are a pair of antennae, two large compound eyes, and the downward directed mouthparts.
Compound eyes vary in shape and protuberance.
They are usually somewhat round but may be elliptical in grasshoppers with strongly slanted faces. Grasshopper head, front, side, and top views. The top of the head between the compound eyes is known as the vertex . Behind the vertex is the occiput , and in front of the vertex is the fastigium . A pair of variously shaped depressions, the lateral foveolae , is often present in front or at the sides of the fastigium.