Plague Locusts

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Australian Plague Locusts

The Australian Plague Locust is a native Australian insect that rarely occurs in Victoria. When it does occur, it can be in extremely large numbers aggregated into dense bands or swarms and can cause significant damage to agricultural production, to community assets such as parks, bowling greens, and golf courses, and to private assets such as lawns, vegetable gardens, and vehicles.

The biology and the cause of outbreaks are described in detail in the identification and biology page.

Situation Overview
Egg-bearing locusts were recorded during Autumn 2008 throughout Victoria in the irrigation area surrounding Shepparton. It is expected that there will be a significant hatching of locusts over a large area (1.25 million hectares) in Spring. These locusts could severely damage pastures, cereal and horticulture crops in the area if no control programs are undertaken. Read more...

Situation as at 12pm Wednesday 3 December 2008

Confirmed Australian Plague Locust Sightings Map (PDF 585KB)

A total of 571 sites have been confirmed as having Australian Plague Locusts.

Locusts in southern New South Wales and northern Victoria have started fly and may begin laying another generation of eggs that could begin hatching in mid-December. This is a very visible phase of their lifecycle and may be the first time many northern Victorians will have seen locusts this spring.

APL are a natural phenomenon and cannot ever be completely eradicated - despite the best combined efforts of DPI, landholders and the community to control the outbreak. Locust Hotline: 1300 13 5559

News
Ministerial Release (PDF 43KB)
Media Releases

More Information
Fact Sheets
Identification & Biology
FAQs
History in Victoria

Photo: Plague locust adult
Figure 1. Adult Australian Plague Locust

DPI encourages vigilance to look out for egg laying locusts to determine where any new infestations may start and report to the Locust Hotline on 1300 13 5559.

Landholders from all areas of Victoria are encouraged to take suspected locust samples to their local DPI centre. Staff there will arrange forwarding of the sample to the Locust ICC for identification by an entomologist.

Last 24 hours
Twenty (20) new (unconfirmed APL) sightings were reported in Moira and Greater Shepparton Shires.

Incident Control Centre field crews are continuing to revisit sites with previously confirmed APL activity to monitor adult locust development and to identify where the next generation of locusts will emerge.

Warmer weather patterns in Southern New South Wales (NSW) over the next couple of days may result in increased locust activity and migration across the NSW/ Victorian border.

While, APL are not yet present in Victoria in large or dense swarms, the Department of Primary Industries is continually monitoring and managing the situation.

Residents within the primary target zone are encouraged to be on the lookout for swarms and egg laying by immigrating and resident locusts, and to report these to the locust control line on 1300 13 5559.

Safety Messages
DPI field crews are currently undertaking locust monitoring activities along roadsides and motorists are asked to slow down and exercise caution in these areas.

Flying locusts may constitute a driving hazard for motorists.

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