Home gardens
During spring and summer large numbers of locusts can be present over a large area of the agricultural regions of Western Australia.
Initially locusts can be distributed in paddocks on farms but hoppers and adult locusts are very mobile and will move to homesteads and rural towns. Because of the concentration of irrigated plants in gardens relative to surrounding areas, locusts can quickly build up to high numbers in gardens causing damage. Locust hoppers and adult locusts may enter gardens over a number of weeks.
The following products are registered for control of grasshoppers and are readily available from your local nursery or hardware store and rural merchandise suppliers. Remember to always read and follow chemical label directions, and wear safety gear. Refer to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) for further details.
| Product name | Active ingredients |
|---|---|
| Eco-neem botanical insecticide | Azadirachtin |
| Richgro caterpillar grasshopper and millipede insecticide | Carbaryl |
| various | Esfenvalerate |
| Green guard SC premium biological insecticide | Metarhizium spores |
Locust control in home gardens
- The damage that large numbers of locusts can do to gardens can only be stopped by the use of insecticides.
- Because gardens can be damaged quickly, landowners need to act immediately if a swarm of locusts arrives.
- Nurseries and hardware retailers can supply the small quantities of insecticides needed for individual home gardens and advise on their safe use.
- It is important that label directions relating to rates of application of insecticides in gardens are followed.
- In addition, other animals like sheep and poultry can also be affected and therefore early liaison with neighbours is essential.