SPUR THROAT LOCUST ALERT
Published Tuesday, 08 May, 2007 at 10:58 AM
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries
The Honourable Tim Mulherin
Landowners across western Queensland are being asked to report any sightings of spur-throated locust swarms during the winter months to the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries.
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said the warning had been prompted by the Australian Plague Locust Commission discovering significant numbers of spur-throated locusts throughout the west.
Mr Mulherin said the locusts tended to swarm and roost during the winter months, usually in heavily timbered country.
“Finding and treating these swarms in winter is our best means of combating this pest which poses a significant threat to crops and grazing lands throughout the west region and Central Highlands in the coming spring,” Mr Mulherin said.
“The locust will spread out again in spring and can have a devastating impact on summer crops when they are much more difficult to control.”
Mr Mulherin said the biggest problem confronting land protection officers was actually finding the swarms across a huge area of western Queensland.
“Our objective is to find and treat as many swarms as possible to prevent their numbers from escalating exponentially.
“We need everyone to keep their eyes open and report swarm sightings.
“Roosting locusts can be so thick at times that their weight can break off tree branches.
“Before winter sets in, we are asking landholders to thoroughly check their holdings and report any locust activity to their nearest DPI&F Biosecurity Queensland officer,” Mr Mulherin said.
The four locust species of economic importance to Queensland are the Australian plague locust, the spur-throated locust, the migratory locust and the yellow-winged locust.
Biosecurity Queensland shares coordination of locust control operations with the Australian Plague Locust Commission.
The most significant recent locust outbreak was in central western Queensland in 1995-96 when millions of dollars of damage was done to crops
(Photo of central Queensland locust swarm, available on request, 32393000)
Media: 32396530
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said the warning had been prompted by the Australian Plague Locust Commission discovering significant numbers of spur-throated locusts throughout the west.
Mr Mulherin said the locusts tended to swarm and roost during the winter months, usually in heavily timbered country.
“Finding and treating these swarms in winter is our best means of combating this pest which poses a significant threat to crops and grazing lands throughout the west region and Central Highlands in the coming spring,” Mr Mulherin said.
“The locust will spread out again in spring and can have a devastating impact on summer crops when they are much more difficult to control.”
Mr Mulherin said the biggest problem confronting land protection officers was actually finding the swarms across a huge area of western Queensland.
“Our objective is to find and treat as many swarms as possible to prevent their numbers from escalating exponentially.
“We need everyone to keep their eyes open and report swarm sightings.
“Roosting locusts can be so thick at times that their weight can break off tree branches.
“Before winter sets in, we are asking landholders to thoroughly check their holdings and report any locust activity to their nearest DPI&F Biosecurity Queensland officer,” Mr Mulherin said.
The four locust species of economic importance to Queensland are the Australian plague locust, the spur-throated locust, the migratory locust and the yellow-winged locust.
Biosecurity Queensland shares coordination of locust control operations with the Australian Plague Locust Commission.
The most significant recent locust outbreak was in central western Queensland in 1995-96 when millions of dollars of damage was done to crops
(Photo of central Queensland locust swarm, available on request, 32393000)
Media: 32396530