Locust bands found in northwest NSW

23 Sep 2010, 7:17 pm   -   Source: AAP
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First surveillance flight captures 'supersized' locust bands in NSW northwest.

Surveillance aircraft have captured images of "supersized" bands of locusts in northwestern NSW that are more than three kilometres in length.

NSW Primary Industries Minister Steve Whan has released the footage of the locusts near Walgett, taken during the first aerial surveillance mission of the plague season.

Mr Whan said there were now 102 confirmed locust reports across NSW, with aircraft on Wednesday detecting the insects in 16 locations near Walgett.

"What we've seen from the footage is supersized bands of locusts, more than three kilometres long, eating fodder and crops in northern NSW," Mr Whan told reporters at NSW Parliament on Thursday.

"This has confirmed our prediction that the northwest will be the first front in the battle against the locust plague.

"It's critical that we actually get on top of those locusts and spray them while they're banding, before they actually take off."

Mr Whan said the government would target spraying on the locust bands, saying once the pests took to the wing spraying was much less effective.

The government has devoted $18.5 million to tackling what experts have warned could be the worst plague in 30 years.

Enough insecticide has been stocked to treat half a million hectares, while more than 50 aircraft will be on standby over the spring and summer.

Spraying in the state's northwest would begin in a couple of days, Mr Whan said.

"Locusts emerge from the ground (and) it takes two-and-a-half to three weeks before they start banding together," he said.

"Once they've banded, and they get a bit bigger, they then take to the wing, and that's when you get the swarms in the air.

"(When they're banded) we actually have the opportunity of a couple of weeks to spray them on the ground."

Known egg hatchings exist at Brewarrina, Bourke, Enngonia in the northwest, Nyngan in central NSW, and Wentworth in the southwest of the state, he said.

"It is vitally important that we keep getting the reports in from farmers when we see them hatching," Mr Whan said.

"That's when we know a couple of weeks later to start the surveillance."

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