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Locust media update – 6 November 2009
Locust alert for motorists
The Department of Agriculture and Food has issued a warning for motorists travelling in the central and southern agricultural regions to be prepared for small locust swarms.
Locust incident coordinator Dennis Rafferty said drivers needed to take special safety precautions, including keeping headlights on and ensuring radiators and windscreens were kept clean.
Mr Rafferty said while locusts were not expected to form large, dense swarms, there were sufficient numbers that would take flight and could impact on driving conditions.
“Our advice is for drivers travelling in areas affected by locusts to keep their headlights on, and clean headlights and windscreens regularly,” he said.
“It is also a good idea to attach a screen to protect car radiators from a build up of locusts. Radiator screens should be cleaned frequently to maintain good air flow and prevent the engine from overheating.”
Spraying
Mr Rafferty said the department was currently monitoring locust hatchings to determine if a control program was needed to minimise the formation of high density locust swarms.
Unseasonal conditions have caused delayed and staggered hatchings of locusts resulting in lower densities than expected. Crops and pastures have also dried off, reducing feed availability.
“At this stage, the department will not be spraying in the Central Agricultural Region as locust hatchings have not reached sufficient levels and are unlikely to form damaging swarms,” he said.
“Landholders are still advised to check their own properties to determine if spraying would be beneficial to protect individual crops and pastures.”
Monitoring of hatchings was continuing in the southern areas this week and would determine if spraying by the department was required.
Hatchings have now been recorded on about 558 properties across the central and southern agricultural regions. (See list of Shires with hatchings below)
Hatchings by Shire
|
Shire |
Total # of properties larger than 100ha. |
# Hatched properties |
# Surveyed properties |
# Dept sprayed properties |
Sprayed area (ha.) |
|
Bruce Rock (S) |
207 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Esperance (S) |
991 |
59 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
|
Gnowangerup (S) |
269 |
44 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Jerramungup (S) |
285 |
11 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
|
Katanning (S) |
175 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Kellerberrin (S) |
184 |
15 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Kent (S) |
295 |
12 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Kondinin (S) |
264 |
4 |
17 |
0 |
0 |
|
Kulin (S) |
290 |
4 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
|
Lake Grace (S) |
464 |
45 |
31 |
0 |
0 |
|
Merredin (S) |
284 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Moora (S) |
247 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Mount Marshall (S) |
258 |
48 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Mukinbudin (S) |
166 |
79 |
29 |
0 |
0 |
|
Narembeen (S) |
244 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Nungarin (S) |
85 |
9 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Quairading (S) |
194 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Ravensthorpe (S) |
337 |
49 |
12 |
0 |
0 |
|
Tammin (S) |
99 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Trayning (S) |
130 |
24 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Westonia (S) |
119 |
33 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
|
Yilgarn (S) |
351 |
97 |
35 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total |
16849 |
558 |
148 |
0 |
0 |
Maps
A map showing the latest hatchings is available from www.agric.wa.gov.au clicking on the Australian Plague Locust link. (Map is also attached to the email as a PDF file).
More information
More information including photographs to assist with locust identification is available from local department offices, www.agric.wa.gov.au and or phoning 1800 084 881.
Media contacts:
Lisa Bertram/Jodie Thomson, media liaison 9368 3325/9368 3937
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