description Australian Plague Locust Overview
The Australian Plague Locust (Chortoicetes terminifera) is a highly migratory insect species native to the arid and semi-arid interior regions of Australia. It is distinguished by its ability to form massive, dense swarms capable of flying long distances, devastating agricultural crops and pastures across multiple states. Entomologically, the species features a dark spot on its hindwings and can survive unfavorable dry periods by laying eggs in vast, dormant beds in the soil. Its population dynamics are continuously monitored by the Australian Plague Locust Commission to protect national agricultural interests.
help Australian Plague Locust FAQ
How much crop damage do Australian Plague Locust swarms cause?
During major outbreak years, dense swarms of the Australian Plague Locust can cause hundreds of millions of dollars in damage to crops and pasture across eastern Australia. The economic threat is significant enough that the Australian government funds the Australian Plague Locust Commission (APLC) specifically to monitor and suppress outbreaks.
How does the Australian Plague Locust Commission control outbreaks?
The APLC conducts surveillance using light traps, weather modeling, and field surveys across eastern Australia to detect population buildups, then carries out targeted aerial spraying of nymphal bands and swarms with approved insecticides. Intervening during the flightless nymph stage is critical to preventing the formation of mobile adult swarms.
How far can Australian Plague Locust swarms migrate in a single night?
Swarms of the Australian Plague Locust can travel hundreds of kilometers in a single night, carried by wind currents from the arid interior into fertile agricultural zones. This long-distance migratory capacity is what makes the species such a persistent and difficult-to-manage agricultural threat.
What physical features distinguish the Australian Plague Locust from other Australian grasshoppers?
The Australian Plague Locust (Chortoicetes terminifera) can be identified by a dark blotch at the tip of its hind wing and a small spur on the inner side of the hind leg. Unlike most grasshopper species, it also has the behavioral ability to transform from a solitary insect into a swarming, migratory form under high-density population conditions.
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