Australian Plague Locusts
The Australian Plague Locust (APL) is a declared pest under the Agriculture and Related Resources Protection Act 1976. A moderate to severe outbreak of APLs is expected to occur in Spring 2007 in 6 shires in the Southern Agricultural region (Albany to Esperance).
The Australian Plague Locust control program is a Category 1 Incident under the Department of Agriculture and Food’s incident management arrangements.
Emerging nymphs and swarming locusts have the ability to cause severe damage to crops and pastures in the wheatbelt, as well as damage to intensive horticultural enterprises, sporting grounds, orchards, vineyards, gardens and other public and private facilities from flying swarms. Large locust numbers may also lead to more extensive problems early in the next growing season.
The Department of Agriculture and Food and the Agriculture Protection Board's control program will supplement the control measures that will be taken by individual landholders. The program will carry out strategic control in the worst affected areas to diminish the potential for locusts to form damaging swarms. The coordinated control program will take place approximately four weeks after hatchings start. This will mean that landholders will have to carry out monitoring and hopper control on their properties to prevent pasture and crop damage.
There is a need to control swarming locusts in the spring and summer of 2007 to mitigate direct damage to this year's crops and pastures and to prevent further build-up to a subsequent locust problem in autumn 2008.
If you wish to make any locust reports call the Department's
Pest and Disease Information Service on 1800 084 881.
Industry and community information
- Australian Plague Locust Controls for some horticultural crops in Western Australia - Information provided as a guide to insecticides for use against grasshoppers and or locusts.
- Bulletin 4691 Australian Plague Locust (Chortoicetes terminifera) - Description and biology of the Australian plague locust. Details of the control program as well as management options for agricultural activities (pastures, grain crops, horticulture, viticulture, trees, aquaculture, organic farms, home gardens), and the use of insecticides for control.
- Plague locusts, wingless grasshoppers and livestock residues (plus supplement) - MLA Publication that outlines key issues relating to management of plague locusts and wingless grasshoppers, with a special focus on avoiding potential contamination of livestock through chemical residues. The brochure details the Export Slaughter Intervals (ESIs) of various chemicals used for plague locust control and gives a number of handy tips on correct chemical usage.
- Farmers Guide to the 2007 Australian Plague Locust Incident
- Locust & Grasshopper Identification - How to tell the difference
- Locust spraying issues (factsheets):
- Apiculture
- Aquaculture
- Home gardens
- Horticulture
- Insecticides registered for the control of APL . All insecticides are registered with the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA). The APVMA regularly reviews the registration of insecticides, which includes a review of scientific research in relation to public health.
- Livestock and Poultry
- Locust spraying and withholding periods
- Organic farming
- Viticulture
- Daily shire update
- Driver and vehicle safety
- Frequently asked questions on locust history, biology and ecology, monitoring, damage and costs, control, insecticide and application. Effects of spraying on aquaculture, organic farms, and bees. Alternatives to insecticides and issues of health, welfare, urban concerns.
Locust Status Report
The Australian Plague Locust Status Report will be regularly updated. This information will include mapping the situation and indicate where control will be undertaken in an area or region.
- Week ending November 30 - weekly update - Hatchings map [PDF]
- Week ending November 23 - weekly update - Hatchings map [PDF]
- Week ending November 16 - weekly update - Hatchings map [PDF]
- Week ending November 9 - weekly update - Hatchings map [PDF]
- Week ending November 2 - weekly update - Hatchings map [PDF]
- Week ending October 26 - weekly update - Hatchings map [PDF]
- Week ending October 19 - weekly update - Hatchings map [PDF]
- Week ending October 12 - weekly update - Hatchings map [PDF]
Media releases
- Locust autumn survey results in (21 June 2007)
- Landholders urged to monitor paddocks for locusts eggs (7 September 2007)
Department of Agriculture and Food Regional Contacts
Compliments, complaints and feedback
- Online Customer Feedback Form PDF version
Further information
- Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (www.apvma.gov.au)
- Australian Plague Locust Commission (www.daff.gov.au/aplc)
- Department of Agriculture and Food (www.agric.wa.gov.au)
Local offices throughout the State;
Pest and Disease Information Service (phone 1800 084 881) - Department of Health - Pesticide Safety Unit (phone 9383 4244)
- Poisons Information Centre (phone 131 126)
- Rural Financial and Family Counselling (www.rfcs.gov.au)(phone 1800 198 231)
- Safemeat (www.safemeat.com.au)
A website with information on Export Slaughter Intervals, Export Grazing Intervals and Export Animal Feed Intervals
- Your family doctor
Page updated 7 October 2007
Content ID 6706
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