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Migratory locust
- Adult migratory locust (Locusta migratoria)
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- Causes major damage to crops
General information
The migratory locust (Locusta migratoria) is large, heavily built, green or brown in the solitary form. It is the most widepsread locust species. It occurs throughout Africa, Asia and Australia.
The migratory locust is a Class 2 declared pest animal under Queensland legislation. It is the responsibility of landholders to control migratory locusts on their land.
| Scientific name |
Locusta migratoria |
| Impacts |
- damages sorghum, sugarcane, forage, and wheat crops
- losses can be avoided by planting less susceptible crops such as sunflower, chickpea, safflower and cotton
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| Description |
- grows to about 14-60 mm in length
- is straw coloured when gregarious (swarming)
- hind wings have no markings, but may be faintly greenish-yellow
- mandibles (jaws) are dark-purple to black
- hopper bands can be a striking black and tan colour
- adult flight is strong and steady, with the slight green wing tinge visible
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| Habitat and distribution |
- confined mostly to Queensland's Central Highlands, while low numbers are common as far south as northern New South Wales
- nymphs and adults can be found all year round - damaging populations are restricted to the warmer months
- in normal summer temperatures minimum life cycle is:
- egg - 11 days
- hopper - 30 days
- laying adult - 14 days
- see the identification of locusts fact sheet for distribution maps or the mapping section
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| Control |
- landholders are required to control its numbers on their land
- see the spraying control methods page on this website
- see the identification of locusts fact sheet for further information
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| Declaration details |
- a declared Class 2 species under the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002
- landholders are required to control its numbers on their land
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| Further information |
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Page maintained by Sonia Jordan
Last reviewed 09 September 2011
