Method of Control
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Why it works
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Implements Required
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Where it can be applied
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Limitations
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Mechanical Destruction of Nymphs
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Locust Nymphs are very delicate and very susceptible to physical damage.
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Road Roller, or Cropping Roller, Pasture Harrows
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Pastures, Road surfaces, Drain banks, Channel banks.
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Not a suitable method for standing crops, however nymphs pose a very minor risk
to crops, because they require a diverse diet.
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Destruction of Nymphs by heat.
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Insects are very vulnerable to sudden changes in temperature.
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Flame weeders, Steam Weeders, Hot Water
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Anywhere
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Flame weeders could only be used when vegetation is still green, otherwise fire
is a risk.
|
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Vacuuming Nymphs
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Nymphs congregate in bands. They are very light and easily vacuumed with a
vacuum.
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Large Vacuum. Street sweeper or similar.
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Anywhere
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Cost and limited availability of suitable equipment.
|
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Netting of Nymphs and Adult Locusts.
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Locusts usually fly and hop close to the ground
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Large nets mounted on machinery or used to cover crops
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Suitable method for reducing damage in high value horticulture crops.
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Intensive and expensive, as it will need to be repeated multiple times per day.
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Repellents (mainly to avoid damage from migrating adult Locusts)
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Migrating Locust swarms move rapidly across the landscape and rarely persist in
one area for more that a couple of weeks.
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Suitable repellent.
Neem oil, other oils, certain chemicals. (Requires urgent research)
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High value crops
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Can be expensive and may require multiple applications of suitable repellents
over a number of weeks.
|
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Do Nothing- Allow natural predation.
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Natural built up of Locust predators and climatic changes results in plagues
lasting only a short time.
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Land management sympathetic to ecological function will increase the
effectiveness of this method.
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Farms where there is a good level of ecological function; This requires large
areas of native vegetation in good condition with flourishing wildlife
populations.
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Not suitable for most farmland in Victoria.
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