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Australian plague locust

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Australian plague locust

Photograph of an adult Australian plague locust
Australian plague locust adult female


General information

Of all locusts in Queensland, the Australian plague locust (Chortoicetes terminifera) is the most important economically due to the extent and frequency of its outbreaks. Successful breeding occurs after good rains in the Channel country of western Queensland. Locusts then migrate on prevailing weather systems, invading adjacent agricultural areas, including those in southern Queensland.

The Australian plague locust is a Class 2 declared pest under Queensland legislation. Landholders are responsible for controlling Australian plague locusts on their land.

Scientific name

Chortoicetes terminifera
Impacts
  • causes extensive crop and pasture damage
  • high density swarms (more than 50 insects per square metre) can eat 20 tonnes of vegetation a day
Description
  • between 25-44 mm long
  • body colour grey, brown or occasionally green
  • often has a pale stripe down the middle of its back
  • hind wing has conspicuous black spot at the tip
  • hind legs have red shanks
  • makes short flights just above the grass
  • often lands side on to the observer
Habitat, distribution and life cycle
  • up to four generations occur each year
  • eggs can survive extended dry periods
  • nymphs can form dense bands of up to 5000 locusts per square metre
  • swarms of flying adults occur from spring to autumn
  • in normal summer temperatures minimum life cycle is:
    • egg: 11 days
    • hopper: 35 days
    • laying adult: 12 days
  • see the identification of locusts fact sheet for distribution maps
Control
  • control during the hopper stage is most effective
  • see the spraying control methods page on this website
Declaration details
  • a declared Class 2 species under the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002
  • landholders are required to control declared pests on their land
Further information

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Page maintained by Sonia Jordan
Last updated 06 January 2012

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