There is a popular misconception that grasshoppers have ears on their legs. In fact, grasshoppers have no external ears, but instead hear by means of an organ called a tympanum. However, the tympanum is indeed located near the base of the grasshopper's hind legs, which likely accounts for this belief.

Do crickets have tympanum?

The cricket ear is located in the front legs and is a sound receiver with four acoustic inputs. In the case of the right ear, one input is the external surface of the eardrum (IT: ipsilateral tympanum).

How does tympanum work grasshopper?

The tympanum has characteristics that are similar to a drum. Beating on a drum with a mallet will vibrate the drum head (membrane) to create a sound. Drum heads can also respond to sounds. When sound waves of the correct frequency and amplitude hit the drum head, the drum will vibrate.