Palps are used to feel, taste and manipulate food by insects. Palpilectomy is the experimental removal of the palp. This study was carried out to examine the significance of the palps and the effect of its absence on the feeding habit and gut digestive enzymes of the variegated grasshopper, Zonocerus variegatus. Sixty adult male Zonocerus variegatus (3-5 days after adult emergence) were used. The grasshoppers were divided into three groups comprising insects with : intact palps, labial palps removed and all palps removed. They were fed daily with freshly cut cassava leaf (Manihot esculenta) for 30 days. Records of leaves’ weights were taken for feed intake. The activities of three digestive enzymes, namely: amylase, lipase and proteinase were determined. Feeding rate and morphometrics study done showed significant differences among the groups. The group with without labial palp showed significantly higher feed intake. Result from the biochemical analysis showed all enzymes were detected in the insect’s gut regions; however, there were no significant differences in the activities of the three enzymes from various gut regions in three experimental groups. Palpilectomy (palp removal) affects the feed intake (leaf destruction capability) and weight gain with insignificant effect on the activities of the digestive enzymes in the gut regions of Zonocerus variegatus.