A tachinid parasite of Australian grasshoppers

Abstract

Grasshoppers of the subfamily Morabinae (Orthoptera: Eumastacidae) are attacked by the parasite Myothyria fergusoni Malloch (Diptera: Tachinidae) which is distributed throughout Australia, although some morabine species seem to be immune. At seasons when suitable host morabines are not available, the tachinids pass through at least two generations in grasshoppers of the family Acrididae, and appear not to diapause. The distribution of the fly is very uneven, but heavy infestations can occur locally. The larvae, and adult genitalia are figured.