'Carpet of critters' found on road as Aussies warned major pest 'on the move'
Australians are being warned to be on the lookout for a notorious pest currently on the move, which has the potential to devastate crops and impact some of our most essential food staples.
Swarming again across parts of outback Queensland, Migratory Locusts have been sighted in large numbers around the Longreach, Muttaburra, Aramac, and Alpha–Moray Downs regions, after an extended period of wet weather created the perfect breeding conditions for the species.
While the Migratory Locust is native to Australia and plays a role in the ecosystem, in high numbers, it becomes a serious threat to agriculture.
"The Migratory Locust is considered a native pest in Australia, which means that while it has a function in Australia's ecosystem, it still remains a scourge to agriculture," Geoff Penton from natural resource management organisation Desert Channels, told Yahoo News Australia.
"Many landholders will have a property-specific biosecurity plan to enact, and will be deciding how to apply it in a way that balances business and natural resource interests."
Penton said locusts swarm in massive numbers — sometimes in the millions — and land in large swarms on properties. "They will eat everything and anything that looks like green grass. They will even eat green clothing off clothing lines," he said.
The threat isn't just limited to pasture. Locusts are voracious feeders and can consume entire fields of cereal crops, legumes, vegetables and even fruit trees in a matter of hours. This includes wheat, barley, oats and sorghum — key ingredients in everything from bread and beer to livestock feed.
A large enough outbreak can cripple agricultural regions, strip paddocks bare, reduce food security and cause major economic losses for farmers already doing it tough due to climate variability.
Recent surveillance by the Australian Plague Locust Commission (APLC) has confirmed landholder reports of active locust bands, with swarms already being spotted along rural roads.
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In an update posted by Desert Channels Queensland, staff recently observed "a carpet of critters" near Muttaburra, including several "late-instar stage" locusts preparing to reach full maturity. The APLC has advised that these locusts are expected to grow wings and begin forming larger, more mobile swarms in the coming weeks.
While the population size remains below the threshold needed to trigger aerial control, the situation is being closely monitored. Locust development is expected to slow as winter sets in — unless consistent rainfall of at least 40mm per month continues, which could encourage further egg hatching and survival.
The APLC is urging landholders and local councils to report any sightings of swarms, hopper bands or egg-laying activity directly to the commission on 1800 635 962 or locust.report@agriculture.gov.au.
With the threat of crop destruction looming, vigilance and early reporting are essential. Australia has seen the damage locust plagues can cause, and experts are hoping proactive reporting will keep this outbreak in check before it takes flight.
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