Migratory locusts have recently swarmed onto farms in central and western Queensland. Not only are they wreaking havoc on lush pastures, their habitat, but they are decimating the livelihoods of local farmers. Grazier Leticia Donaldson kept a close eye on her own locust infestation. She added that good seasonal conditions have resulted in their populations exploding exponentially. According to the Australian Plague Locust Commission (APLC), should these conditions continue, locust numbers could increase to plague levels.
Entomologist and locust researcher Leticia Donaldson saw the first signs of young locusts, called nymphs, on her property around the beginning of March. Sarah’s new outbreak Weeks passed before the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) would agree with Sarah’s characterisation of the plague she was witnessing. “We’ve never seen anything like it down here,” she remarked. This continued infestation has the Central Highlands, Isaac, and Barcaldine council area landholders worried. In the past six weeks, reports of locust presence have exploded across these territories.
Effects on Pastures and Financial Strain
Today, the migratory locusts are stripping the bark off valuable pastures, including buffel grass, at Moonstone Station. Donaldson was understandably upset after dropping almost $50,000 to rent a helicopter. She needed to spray her pasture to stop their spread. Unfortunately, unseasonably wet weather and contractor delays cut short the treatment before the full anticipated benefits could be realized.
Why, that’s a pretty penny to pay! she said. All you’ve accomplished is have your lawn nibbled and your issue unsolved. Whatever the cause, the damage is undeniable. She gestured to tracts of land marked by “dead zones where they’ve eaten the buffel grass right to the fundamental.” The sting of the financial burden hits hard for landowners. Often, they stand by and watch as tens of millions of locusts eat them out of house and home, marching across miles of their land.
Potential for Escalation
APLC’s Bertie Hennecke discussed that operating in ideal conditions, migratory locusts would be able to create three to five generations. For that, you need many, many generations to accumulate in order to get a pest scenario,” Hennecke discussed. Lots of good rain and vigorous grass bite can swell their populations. This new infusion will do more to squeeze out local grazers, though.
With everything changing rapidly, Hennecke and Donaldson highlight the need for proactive management. The DPI acknowledges that the management of locusts is primarily a landowner responsibility under their overarching biosecurity management duties. This further highlights the need for farmers to spend time preparing ahead of outbreaks.
