Australian States Prepare for Biblical Plague of Locusts
Pastor Dale Morgan
Australian States Prepare for Biblical Plague of Locusts*
AAP
October 30, 2009 04:28pm
QUEENSLAND is facing a threat of biblical proportions as Australian
plague locusts mass on the border with NSW.
Biosecurity Queensland has warned that the locust swarms, which can
travel up to 600km in a night, could cause damage worth millions of dollars.
In 2004/05, locusts were responsible for national agricultural losses
estimated to be worth more than $11 million.
Biosecurity officer Kevin Strong said the locust population in central
western NSW was expected to soon form a number of highly mobile swarms.
"We need everyone to be on high alert for any sightings of locusts and
report them immediately to Biosecurity Queensland by calling 13 25 23,"
Mr Strong said.
The ability of locusts to migrate over large distances in short periods
of time meant virtually all of Queensland's agricultural areas were at
some level of risk.
"Locusts can travel between 500 and 600 kilometres in a single night if
the temperature, wind speed and wind direction are right," he said.
"Even in small numbers they are highly destructive.
"A single Australian plague locust can eat approximately one-third to
half of its body weight per day throughout its lifespan.
"This means a locust swarm covering an area of one square kilometre will
eat up to 10 tonnes of vegetation every 24 hours."
Mr Strong says if left untreated and with favourable weather conditions,
locusts are capable of a seven to tenfold population increase with each
generation.
Biosecurity officials are on stand-by with chemical spray.