SEASONAL HISTORY, HOSTS AND NATURAL ENEMIES OF MONISTRIA DISCREPANS (WALKER) (ORTHOPTERA: PYRGOMORPHIDAE) IN SOUTH‐WEST QUEENSLAND

Abstract

Monistria discrepans (Walker) in south‐west Queensland is an obligate univoltine species. A temperature controlled diapause of the eggs confines hatching of eggs laid in the March‐May period to early October. Nymphs develop throughout the summer resulting in a population entirely of adults by April. The presence of nymphs coincides with the greatest growth of the host plant Eremophila gilesii F. Muell. In the Charleville area of south‐west Queensland, feeding is restricted to Eremophila and Myoporum (both Myoporaceae) but species of other families of plants are utilized in eastern areas of Queensland. In laboratory tests, nymphs failed to develop on species of Gramineae, Compositae and Leguminosae.