Current Locust Situation and News
Locust situation in March 2010
This page summarises the known distribution of locusts during March 2010 and provides a brief outlook to mid-April 2010. The next Locust Bulletin will be produced in April 2010.
- Australian Plague Locust situation
- Forecast development dates
- Spur-throated Locust situation
- Migratory Locust situation
Australian Plague Locust (Chortoicetes terminifera)
A significant nymphal infestation with many hopper bands has developed in New South Wales, northern South Australia and western Queensland. In the Tibooburra–Wilcannia area of Far West New South Wales many large bands of mid and late instar nymphs had developed by mid-March. APLC commenced aerial control of bands in the Tibooburra area on 14 March and currently a total of 60,000 ha have been sprayed. Many smaller bands have developed in the Far Southwest, Central West and Riverina regions of New South Wales. Bands have been reported from several locations in the Far North and Northeast regions of South Australia, and from Southwest and South Central Queensland. A number of residual adult swarms have persisted in the Riverina and Central West New South Wales and sporadic egg laying has continued.
The outlook is for widespread fledging of nymphs from late March and high density adults developing, along with swarm formation in several regions during April. There will be a high probability of redistribution and migration of adults and of subsequent high density autumn egg laying in agricultural areas of several states. There is an associated risk of possible localised damage to early cereal and fodder crops in autumn and of a large infestation of nymphs during spring.
Surveys have been limited by continued flooding in all states and the commitment of APLC staff to control activity. Landholder and state agency reports have assisted in determining the extent of infestations. Many small bands have been reported from the Hillston–Booligal, Hay–Merriwagga Balranald-Moulamein, Ivanhoe–Menindee and Narrandera–Weethalle areas. Livestock Health and Pest Authorities and landholders are carrying out ground control of localised bands in New South Wales. Industry and Investment NSW will conduct aerial control of bands in the Louth–Tilpa area.
In Queensland a number of bands have been identified in the southern Bulloo Shire in the Southwest region and localised bands have been reported in the Cunnamulla area. In early March localised bands were also reported from the Longreach area.
Adult locust density increased in the Far North of South Australia during the second half of February and high density egg laying occurred in some locations. In mid-March bands of nymphs were reported from the Dulkaninna, Marree–Lyndhurst and northern Flinders Ranges areas of the Far North region and the Parachilna–Hawker area of the Northeast region. Residual adults continued to move south in the first half of March and low numbers have been reported in the Adelaide area.
Adult locust population levels increased in northern Victoria in early March and there is a widespread low density population in many pasture areas. Some localised medium densities of adults have been reported in North Central Victoria. The likelihood of immigration into northern Victoria will increase during April.
| Location - NSW | Egg laying | Hatching | Mid-instar | Fledging |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brewarrina-Walgett | 31 January | 15 February | 25 February | 14 March |
| Tullamore-Condobolin | 15 February | 6 March | 18 March | 9 April |
| Tibooburra-White Cliffs | 6 February | 24 February | 6 March | 24 March |
| Tibooburra-White Cliffs* | 14 February | 3 March | 13 March | 1 April |
| Wilcannia-Louth | 10 February | 27 February | 9 March | 27 March |
| Ivanhoe-Menindee | 15 February | 5 March | 15 March | 2 April |
| Hay-Balranald | 14 February | 4 March | 17 March | 8 April |
| Hillston-Mossgiel | 14 February | 4 March | 16 March | 4 April |
| West-Wyalong-Ungarie | 7 February | 27 February | 10 March | 29 March |
| Griffith-Coolamon | 16 February | 7 March | 19 March | 10 April |
| Brewarrina-Walgett | 31 January | 15 February | 25 February | 14 March |
|
Location - Qld |
Egg laying | Hatching | Mid-instar | Fledging |
| Thargomindah-Quilpie | 26 January | 8 February | 17 February | 4 March |
| Noccundra-Windorah | 4 February | 19 February | 28 February | 16 March |
| Noccundra-Windorah* | 7 February | 23 February | 5 March | 23 March |
| Longreach-Quilpie | 22 January | 6 February | 18 February | 5 March |
|
Location - SA |
Egg laying | Hatching | Mid-instar | Fledging |
| Innaminka-Moomba | 9 February | 23 February | 6 March | 20 March |
| Dulkaninna-Marree | 15 February | 1 March | 11 March | 29 March |
| Lyndhurst-Hawker | 16 February | 1 March | 10 March | 28 March |
Spur-throated Locust (Austracris guttulosa)
Nymphs at several development stages are widespread in inland Queensland. Present density nymphs were identified in Southwest, Northwest and Central West Queensland and reported from the South Central and Central Highlands regions. There were Numerous density nymphs in parts of Barcoo, Diamantina, Boulia and Winton Shires, and reports of higher density nymphs from near Winton and Georgetown. Nymphs have also been reported from the southern Northern Territory. Adults were widespread at Isolated–Scattered density in western Queensland during February and there were Numerous density adults in Quilpie Shire. There were consistent Isolated–Scattered density adults in Bourke–Brewarrina area of New South Wales.
Although the bulk egg laying for this season has taken place, the continued heavy rains throughout western Queensland and the Central Highlands should allow the survival of many nymphs already hatched. Fledging of early hatched nymphs from the current season may have commenced in February and fledging will increase during March and April. The likely outcome in terms of the overall size of the autumn adult population is difficult to determine, but adult numbers are again likely to be higher than average in Southwest, Northwest and Central West Queensland.
Light trap catches at Longreach and Julia Creek fell to low numbers during February after high catches in previous months. At Nooyeah Downs this species was trapped on numerous nights during February. This reflects a decline in both adult numbers and nocturnal activity of adults from last season. Low numbers of this species were also caught in the Dulkaninna and Oodnadatta light traps during February.
Migratory Locust (Locusta migratoria)
Occasional Isolated density adults were detected north of Augathella in late February. The Longreach light trap also caught low numbers of this species during February. This indicates some low level breeding has occurred in Central West Queensland during summer. Low density adults and light trap catches are common in this region during summer. Heavy summer rains could result in aggregation, egg laying and the possibility of localised gregarious populations developing in Central West, South Central or the Central Highlands of Queensland.
19 March 2010