As Australians, we’re no strangers to the unique challenges that our beautiful, yet sometimes harsh, environment can throw at us. We’ve seen our fair share of natural events, from bushfires to floods. But there’s another natural phenomenon that’s causing concern across parts of the country, and it could have a significant impact on our environment and agriculture: a potential locust outbreak.
Entomologist Andy Austin has raised the alarm, warning that ‘millions’ of these pests could soon descend upon various regions, creating a situation that is both ‘remarkable and disturbing’. The threat is so severe that residents in parts of New South Wales, including Ivanhoe, Tottenham, Warren, Quambone, Goorianawa, and Coonamble, are being urged to take immediate action to prevent an infestation that could rapidly get out of hand.
The Central West Local Land Services are calling on the public to be vigilant, especially in areas with ‘bare, compact soil’ and ‘hard, well-drained ground along contour banks or open areas’. These are prime spots for locusts to lay their eggs, and early detection is crucial. If you come across any locust eggs, authorities are pleading with you to report them immediately.
‘Females lay eggs into the ground, and when they emerge, they’re in the nymphal stage — they look like little grasshoppers, but they don’t have functional wings,’ explains Austin, from Adelaide University. ‘They stay in quite a concentrated area, and the key to controlling them is at this stage. Spraying them now at the beginning of the breeding cycle is best, not part way through.’
Pesticides are the primary method used to combat these pests, but timing is everything. If locusts are allowed to mature and swarm, they can overrun an area with devastating speed and efficiency.
The damage that locust swarms can inflict on the environment is not to be underestimated. These insects have an impressive, albeit frightening, ability to rapidly increase their population size and expand their territory. ‘When locusts reach the adult stage, they’re capable of long-distance dispersal… it could be anything from tens of kilometres to hundreds of kilometres,’ Austin warns. ‘They’re capable of stripping bushes and grass, and denying livestock of food… locusts in very large numbers have the ability to do really significant damage.’
Australia is home to three species of pest locusts, including the native Australian plague locust. Our history with locust outbreaks is extensive, with eight major plagues recorded since 1930, according to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. But reports of these outbreaks date back centuries, often associated with devastation and loss.
The biblical connotations of locust swarms as a form of divine wrath are not lost on us, as these insects can appear seemingly out of nowhere and completely decimate crops. Witnessing a locust swarm is an awe-inspiring experience, but the destruction they leave in their wake is a sobering reminder of the power of nature.
Have you ever witnessed a locust swarm or taken part in pest control efforts? What strategies have worked for you in protecting your home or garden from invasive pests? Share your experiences and tips in the comments below—your insights could help others stay one step ahead of these voracious invaders!
Also read: The beetle plague: Australia’s new threat to gardens
Saw my first Locust in a while on a residential street in Murrumba Downs….landed on the pavement during my early walk…big un alright but seemed to be on his tod….so that’s a blessing!