Blistered Grasshopper
Scientific Name: Monistria pustulifera
Other Common Names: Blistered Pyrgomorph, Arid Inland Painted Grasshopper
Species documented in 1871 by Walker.
Description
The blistered grasshopper (or pyrgomorph) belongs to the family Pyrgomorphidae. This family has some of the smallest and some of the largest grasshoppers in Australia. The pustulifera species can grow up to 65mm in length.
This short horned grasshopper has a mottled body, with orange-yellow spots all over.
Reproduction/Lifecycle
Habitat
The blistered pyrgomorph is found throughout Australia.
Diet
Miscellaneous
This grasshopper is known to be preyed upon by the Straw-necked Ibis (Threskiornis spinicollis) (Carrick, 1959). It also falls victim to mite attacks by a species of Trombella which parasites on this grasshopper (Key & Southcott, 1986).
Found in:
NSW,NT,QLD,SA,VIC,WA,
References/Bibliography:
Carrick, R. 1959. The food and feeding habits of the straw-necked ibis Threskiornis spinicollis (Jameson), and the White Ibis T. molucca (Cuvier), in Australia, CSIRO Wildlife Research. Issue 4, Volume 1. pp 69-92.
Key, K & Southcott, R. 1986. Host Relations and Distribution of Australian Species of Trombella (Acarina: Trombellidae) Parasiting Grasshoppers, Australian Journal of Zoology. Issue 34. pp 647-658.
