The fungus was also found to be effective on untreated insects that entered treated land, or those that hatched within the same week. Metarhizium at this dosage level costs no more than similar chemical sprays, says Dr walker. Plague locusts have reached 'plague' proportions over 15 times in areas of Queensland and New South Wales since the 1930s. The last biggest swarms were in 1984 and 1979. In general, locust plagues occur when widespread areas of inland Australia receive good rainfall in successive seasons.
High rainfall stimulates good growth of grass, rendering the habitat ideal for locust breeding.
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