Pathways of Australian plague locust development

An understanding of the biology and ecology of a pest insect is important for developing cost-effective and sustainable management strategies.  Information on the development rates of each lifestage and variations in development pathways resulting from egg diapause and quiescence is used to help identify the timing of stages critical to locating or controlling locusts.

Pathways of development from egg to adult
Pathway of egg development

Pathways of development from egg to adult
The following diagram shows the pathways of Australian plague locust (Chortoicetes terminifera) development, from egg to adult, depending on rainfall and the condition of vegetation.

Pathway of egg development
Egg development in the Australian plague locust (Chortoicetes terminifera) is strongly influenced by ambient temperature and moisture. Eggs can either develop directly or development can be arrested by quiescence or diapause. Direct development occurs in warm moist conditions.

(QI = quiescence stage I and QII = quiescence stage II).