Navigation path
Locust
- Locust damage to corn
-
- Swarm of locusts
General information
There are about 500 grasshopper species in Australia, some of which can develop large localised infestations without the risk of swarming.
In Queensland, there are four locust species of economic importance:
All of these species are Class 2 declared pest animals except the yellow-winged locust, which is is not declared.
| Scientific name |
Various species |
| Impacts |
- damages crops and pastures
- invades previously uninfested areas, lays eggs, making swarm control difficult
|
| Description |
- the main difference between locusts and grasshoppers is that locusts have the ability to swarm, where grasshoppers don't
- see each species for description
|
| Habitat, distribution and life cycle |
- all locusts have three stage life cycles:
- requires green vegetation for successful breeding
- see the identification of locusts fact sheet for distribution maps on each species
|
| Control |
- can be readily controlled with insecticides if treated at the right time
- chemicals registered or approved for use by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority may be recommended for use
- locust committees, established by local authorities under the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002, may enforce control by landowners and carry out control work as deemed necessary
- the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries is responsible for recommendations and coordination of control throughout Queensland
- the Australian Plague Locust Commission (APLC) will implement control measures only where the commission considers the locusts to be in sufficient numbers to present an interstate threat
- see the spraying control methods page on this website
|
| Declaration details |
- all of these species are Class 2 declared pest animals under the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002, except the yellow-winged locust, which is is not declared
- landholders are required to control its numbers on their land
|
| Further information |
|
Page maintained by Sonia Jordan
Last reviewed 23 January 2008
