The Locusts’ Hands
(for Caleb Cluff)
They’ve crossed the border from New South Wales,
this year’s locusts, threatening crops and -
splattering across windscreens - vehicle mishaps.
In Wagga Wagga, Mathoura,
Narrandera, Mulwala and Culcairn,
swarms have been seen – hoppers,
young ones with undeveloped wings.
Too late for the cereal crops now in,
but in time for fruit trees and vegie gardens.
The plague locust commissioner
of the Department of Primary Industries,
Dr Andrew Tomkins, says so.
Swarms have been spotted in Echuca
on the Murray, and to its west, light swarms
between Yarrawonga and Wangaratta, and
egg beds in at least six sites in Torrumbarry.
Adult locusts are in Chiltern and Colbinabbin.
The rain has ‘played into the locusts’ hands’,
he says. They fatten up, lay more eggs,
and fly further. So far this season there’ve
been more than six hundred confirmed sites.
Depending on winds, in one night
they can travel up to seven hundred
kilometres, in a day up to thirty.
They may keep on into autumn - another
generation may affect the winter cereal crop.
They can also block radiators
causing vehicles to overheat.
Sightings can be reported by calling
the locust hotline 1300....
Max Richards
Doncaster Victoria
Wednesday 31 December 2008
adapted from
theage.com.au/environment/voracious-pests-on-the-wing-again
[good pic also]
------------------------------------------------------------
This email was sent from Netspace Webmail: http://www.netspace.net.au
|