Australia: Locust plague warning issued for Queensland
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Pastor Dale Morgan
Sep 8, 2011, 11:55:41 PM9/8/11
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Plagues,
Pestilences and Diseases
Australia: Locust plague warning issued for Queensland
* From: AAP
* September 09, 2011 8:47AM
EARLY rain and warm weather have sparked warnings about the potential for another devastating locust plague in Queensland.
Last year saw the biggest locust plague in 30 years, when similar conditions spawned an explosion in spur-throated locust numbers in the state's western and central regions.
Agriculture Minister Tim Mulherin has urged landholders to look out for locusts and report sightings to Biosecurity Queensland or the Australian Plague Locust Commission.
"The early rain and warm weather this Spring could lead to a locust problem in the coming months," he said in a statement today.
"We currently have ideal environmental conditions for locust activity and further rain could lead to egg laying."
Biosecurity Queensland last year launched a major ground and aerial surveillance operation and sprayed more than a hundred huge swarms to protect valuable cropping areas.
It's closely monitoring any reported activity again this year, so steps can be taken to head off any large explosion in numbers.
Controlling locusts at the hopper stage can greatly reduce the risks a major plague poses to pastures and crops.
The species to be on the lookout for include the Australian Plague locust, Spur-throated locust and Migratory locust.
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.
A locust swarm covering an area of one square kilometre can consume more than 1 tonne of vegetation every 24 hours.
Australia: Locust plague warning issued for Queensland
* From: AAP
* September 09, 2011 8:47AM
EARLY rain and warm weather have sparked warnings about the potential for another devastating locust plague in Queensland.
Last year saw the biggest locust plague in 30 years, when similar conditions spawned an explosion in spur-throated locust numbers in the state's western and central regions.
Agriculture Minister Tim Mulherin has urged landholders to look out for locusts and report sightings to Biosecurity Queensland or the Australian Plague Locust Commission.
"The early rain and warm weather this Spring could lead to a locust problem in the coming months," he said in a statement today.
"We currently have ideal environmental conditions for locust activity and further rain could lead to egg laying."
Biosecurity Queensland last year launched a major ground and aerial surveillance operation and sprayed more than a hundred huge swarms to protect valuable cropping areas.
It's closely monitoring any reported activity again this year, so steps can be taken to head off any large explosion in numbers.
Controlling locusts at the hopper stage can greatly reduce the risks a major plague poses to pastures and crops.
The species to be on the lookout for include the Australian Plague locust, Spur-throated locust and Migratory locust.
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.
A locust swarm covering an area of one square kilometre can consume more than 1 tonne of vegetation every 24 hours.
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