The role of food plants in the survival and development of Chortoicetes terminifera (Walker) under drought conditions

Field and laboratory observations on C. terminifera at Trangie, N.S.W., during drought conditions showed that none of the commoner plants in the habitat was entirely acceptable as food. Only suboptimal meals were taken with the result that development was slow, survival was poor, and the survivors were of small size. It is concluded that lack of food may be a major factor inducing mortality in the more arid parts of the insect's range, death resulting from lack of water rather than nutritional deficiencies.