Grasshoppers have a digestive tract similar to the earthworm, with a crop and gizzard, but have some major differences. The grasshopper has certain, specialized mouth parts that allow it to taste, bite, and crush food. In addition, its gizzard has plates made of chitin (for more about chitin, see this chapter) that helps grind up its food, and its digestive tract removes the waste products (uric acid) from its body.