|
|
|
Living with locusts
2 Apr 2004
Swarms of locusts are continuing on their path of destruction, eating their way from over the Queensland border to the Riverina. Extensive pesticide spraying of more than 200,000ha has seen locust numbers halved since the swarms first appeared, but the pests are following rivers and streams to eat any patch of vegetation they can find. Regional cities like Dubbo in NSW have been most heavily affected, as the human population is too dense to permit aerial spraying.
Until late last week, easterly winds kept the locusts inland, but the arrival of westerly airstreams pushed the pests towards Gulgong and the outskirts of Mudgee.
The Australian Plague Locust Commission said the swarms are likely to continue until early May, as the locusts roam NSW searching for food.
The Daily Telegraph, 2/4/04, page 17.
|
|
