Yellow-winged locust (Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries)

Yellow-winged locust

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Yellow-winged locust
Photograph of the side-view of an adult yellow-winged locust

Adult yellow-winged locust (Gastrimargus musicus)



General information

The yellow-winged locust (Gastrimargus musicus) occurs in all mainland states. This locust is similar in shape though smaller than migratory locusts.

Although the yellow-winged locust is not a declared pest under Queensland legislation, its control is recommended.

Scientific name

Gastrimargus musicus
Impacts
  • damages crops from areas in Cape York to the Lockyer Valley in Queensland
Description
  • adults range from 36-50 mm
  • has a distinctive clicking noise when in flight
  • wings are bright yellow, edged with a black band
  • colour and body shape varies considerably with population density - green or brown with black markings and arched thorax when solitary and straw-coloured with saddle-shaped thorax when gregarious
Habitat and distribution
  • populations are highest from spring to autumn
  • at high population densities hopper bands and adult swarms can form with eggs laid in dense egg beds
  • life cycle is:
    • eggs: 11 days
    • hopper: 40 days
    • laying adult: 12 days
  • see the identification of locusts fact sheet for distribution maps
Control
  • see the spraying control methods page on this website
  • see the identification of locusts fact sheet for further information
Declaration details
  • not a declared pest under Queensland legislation but may be declared under local government law
Further information
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Page maintained by Sonia Jordan
Last reviewed 02 December 2008

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