Ants, beetles, caterpillars, and grasshoppers have __________ mouthparts.

• A. Chewing
• B. Piercing-sucking
• C. Siphoning
• D. Sponging

Answer: (A)

Chewing mouthparts are built for biting and grinding solid food, with mandibles acting as strong jaws to cut, tear, and crush material. Ants, beetles, caterpillars, and grasshoppers all feed on solid matter—whether leaves, wood, or prey—and rely on those sturdy mandibles to process their food. Caterpillars, in particular, use pronounced chewing mandibles as larvae, which is why this feeding style fits them well even though many adult Lepidoptera feed differently. Other mouthpart types—piercing-sucking, siphoning, and sponging—are adapted for liquids or nectar rather than solid food, so they don’t describe the feeding strategy of these insects. So the best description for these groups is chewing mouthparts.