Locust control
Whose responsibility is locust control?
Landholders are responsible for the control of locusts on their property.
How will the department assist landholders?
The department will undertake targeted surveillance to assist landholders with making decisions about control on their own properties. The department will provide relevant information as the season progresses.
How do landholders control locusts?
The use of insecticide is the most successful method currently available to control locusts. The insecticides registered for use against locusts are available from the insecticides registered for the control of the Australian plague locust link.
At what point should landholders undertake control measures?
Generally, it takes about four weeks for an egg bed to completely hatch from the first early hatchings to the late hatchings. To avoid spraying several times, the department suggests landholders spray when locusts have reached the third stage of development, known as the third instar and are about 10-14mm long. However, if growers are concerned about locust damage they may decide to undertake spraying earlier.
Can locusts be eradicated?
Locusts are native insects to WA and too widely dispersed to control all populations.