Locust update (13 April 2015) - Central West NSW
Channel: Central West Local Land Services
Date: 13/04/2015

The Coonabarabran region is the current focus of the Central West Local Land Services locust response.

The Easter rain has sparked some hatching in known eggs beds, so landholders need to be actively monitoring beds and talking to Local Land Services.

Warmer weather and pasture growth is also encouraging locust growth and laying.

Local Land Services is currently advising central west landholders to: 
- monitor for laying and hatching and report locust activity, no matter how small
- work with Local Land Service to control locust on their land.

It is absolutely critical that landholders report what they see.

Local Land Services need to meet demand for chemical and support, and be able to assess what we need to do in spring.

Landholders can report any locust activity through contacting their Local Land Services office, calling 1300 795 299 or visiting www.lls.nsw.gov.au/centralwest

Reporting is essential for us to know what we are dealing with, and if the situation escalates beyond our scope, be able to call in other resources.

Local Land Services needs information from Coonabarabran landholders in particular.

There are other areas affected, but there is a high concentration of egg beds around Coonabarabran.

Our monitoring shows around 2% have hatched following the Easter rain.

We will continue our monitoring over the next few weeks. The warmer weather will promote hatching. We want to be across the situation and support landholders with chemical and advice.

The recent pasture growth is very attractive for adult and nymph locust and will further their development. This is in both the growth of nymphs to adults and adults being able to develop eggs and lay.

There is evidence that locust are carrying eggs and will continue laying through the winter period, leading to more hatching in spring.

Central West Local Land Services will continue to work with the community to manage locusts.