Locust History in Australia

Historical Methods of Locust Control

The Queenslander, Saturday 31 December 1921, page 38. 'The Grasshopper Pest. Methods of Destruction' - including fire, hot water and hot water and soap, as well as poison methods. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22617821

"(1) Fire: (a) In practice the swarms are surrounded by a zone of dry grass, straw, or weeds, and this at once fired, or again, if the minute insects be met with emerging from the soil, this should be covered lightly with the same material, and this set alight, whilst, on having done so, they are still congregating in, on, and upon it. (b) Again where singers are available (constructed on the principle of a painter's burner) that are usually employed in removing the spines from prickly pear for fodder purposes, the young grasshoppers may be killed with their blast.

Water: (a) Raised to the temperature of the boiling point, it may simply be sprayed over the insect swarms. It is preferable, however, not to employ water alone, in order to secure the beat effects, but as follows: - (b) With soap (e.g. the form known as 'Sunlight'), in the proportion of 1lb. to 5 gallons, the soap being first shredded, and then dissolved with boiling, the spray fluid being preferably administered whilst still warm - or even hot. Ordinary home-made soap is even serviceable. (c) With kerosene one part in seven parts water, with constant mixing to prevent separating out. (d) With carbolic acid (98), in mixtures of 3 and 4 per cent. strength. (c) Cyllin: Egyptian practice has shown that even a 2 per cent. solution is fatal to the younger grasshoppers. (f) Phenol derivatives. (g) The ordinary Queensland dip fluid may again be availed of when the grasshoppers are in the earlier stages of growth."

The Sydney Morning Herald , Thursday 4 October 1934, page 10. A letter to the editor from Roy L. Wentworth regarding a mechanical method of locust control used in America.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article28019279

"TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.

Sir,-Some years ago. I witnessed a demontration of a machine designed to devour grasshoppers. It was invented and patented in the United States by a State Congressman for Nebraska, named Walter S. Jardine; the apparatus is attached to a car or tractor and sucks the insects into a large hopper, the mechanism of which grinds them into a meal which is a valuable poultry food, and is also used as a fertiliser. The invention has been described in American technical and trade journals on several occasions.

Perhaps some of your readers may know If any of those machines have reached Australia. It obviates any risk attached to poison or gas compounds.

I am, etc.,

Sydney, Oct. 3. ROY L. WENTWORTH."

The Courier-Mail, Monday 8 October 1934, page 17. 'Grasshopper Pest', a letter to the editor from M.A. Fox regarding heavy rollers as a means of controlling locusts.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article35641779

"GRASSHOPPER PEST

Sir,- I notice quite a number of suggestions for destroying the grasshopper pest. I believe very heavy rollers would be the best thing to crush them, the same as is used to roll the wheatflelds. All the farmers could keep them going, also the councils could use their large rollers on the roads, and even small garden rollers could be used.
I am, sir, &c.,
Goodna. M. A. FOX."

The Argus, Tuesday 6 November 1934, page 3. 'Remedy used in 1890', a letter to the editor from A.C. Wemyss about a method used to destroy locust hoppers in 1890.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10991732

"TO THE EDITOR OF THE ARGUS
Sir -In 1890 their was a grasshopper plague similar to the present plague. On that occasion we dealt with the pest in the following manner -When the eggs were hatched but before the hoppers were able to fly, a mob of sheep was rounded up on the infested area, killing the insects in millions. - Yours, &c. A. C. WEMYSS Carapooee, Nov. 2."

The Argus, Thursday 20 December 1934, page 11, Advice about protecting gardens from locusts. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11002398

"The small gardeners may pin their faith to any method by which green foliage may be concealed from the insects. It is believed that covering lawns and plants with hessian or straw is effective. For the larger properties, smudge fires made by burning any rubbish are recommended. Often the grasshoppers may be easily moved to the gardens of neighbours by creating a disturbance, but this method is not recommended. In northern area the insects have been kept away by striking tins, but it appears that movement rather than noise affects the swarms, for three men riding horses successfully protected one tobacco plantation. However, they had to remain on the job all day. It has been found that spraying plants with lead arsenate is of no value as protection against the winged insects. One tomato grower near Bendigo dusted his plants with air-slaked lime. The insects passed by his plantation without causing any damage, but whether the lime was the cause of this is not known. It may have acted as a repellent. Possibly the only gardens immune from an attack are those in which larkspurs -any plants of genus delphinium - are growing. It appears to be well established that the grasshoppers will not approach these plants, which contain delphinin -a virulent poison. In any event this will soon be tested, for the swarms will be here within a few days if conditions are favourable. It was formerly thought that one swarm could not travel more than 60 miles during its life, but observations made recently show that one swarm flew 38 miles in two days. The insects appear in such great numbers that they block the radiators of motor-cars, and in the northern country there has been a demands for "fly-wire," which motorists have attached to their cars as a shield. Information about the methods used in the Argentine to combat plagues of locusts or grasshoppers has been sent to the Minister for Agriculture (Mr Allan) by the Consul General for the Argentine (Senor Bidone) The problem is dealt with there on a national basis, and a permanent staff of 583 officers is constantly employed. Regular attacks are made of breeding-grounds. The Government pays about 3d. a bag for grasshoppers, and unemployed men earn up to 5/ a day by gathering the insects. Recently £200 000 was granted to combat the pest. Sprays of soap emulsions have proved effective, up to 100 per cent of insects treated having been killed within six hours after spraying."

The Argus, Friday 21 December 1934, page 9. Advice about protecting gardens and bowling greens from locust damage. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11002672

"PROTECTING THE PARKS

Flywire, Netting, and Poison

To protect city parks from grasshoppers, precautions are being taken by the parks and gardens staff. Fly wire and mosquito netting will be placed around choice blooms and seedlings in the City Council's nurseries. To protect the lawns large quantities of lime and arsenate of lead have been ordered. If necessary the lime will be spread over lawns and flower beds, and the solution will be sprayed on plants, shrubs, and trees.

Advice to Bowling Clubs

"In the event of greens being endangered by the grasshopper plague," said a statement issued yesterday by the Victorian Bowling Association, "It is suggested that clubs should either procure enough straw to cover their greens or buy a few bags of air-slaked or fine agricultural lime. The lime, if not required immediately, can be put aside until next season's top-dressing. If used, it should be spread very lightly."

The Argus, Friday 21 December 1934, page 4. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11002559

"The croquet lawns were covered with straw, which made good protection against the pest. The bowling-green has been covered, while boys are employed to keep the grasshoppers moving."

The Sydney Morning Herald, Thursday 27 December 1934, page 5. A letter to the editor referring to a non-poisonous spray alternative for controlling locusts - soapy water. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17135185

"GRASSHOPPER CONTROL.

Non-poisonous Spray.

Mr. Frank W. Hastie, of Haberfield, writes: - Looking through some old but interesting newspaper cuttings, I came across one from the "Midland News" (South Africa), of May, 1934, stating that a Transvaal farmer had made the discovery that ordinary soap and water could be used to combat and destroy locusts, and, presumably, grasshoppers, just as effectively and with less risk than arsenical poison.

The swarm is sprayed when it is settled for the night, and in the morning every locust is dead. Death is due to the closing up of the body pores of the locust when the soapy solution dries and hardens on it. With a case of soap, costing from 12/ to 13/ (price in Africa), it is said that a whole farm (size not mentioned) can be quickly and effectively sprayed, without, danger to animal or bird life, and no injury to the soil. The recipe is one-quarter of a pound of soap to four gallons of water, sprayed warm."

The Argus, Thursday 27 December 1934, page 3. 'Wild Life and Poison Baits - Destroying Natural Enemies of Pests' by L. G. Chandler. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11003543

"Promptness in attack must be the slogan for future plagues, and to allow natural enemies of the insect to assist the poison-bait must be eliminated. There is one method of attack that is simple and sage. In all the paddocks that I saw it would have been possible to run a plough furrow, or dig shallow trenches ahead of the mass of small hoppers, to erect a hession wall, then simply to drive the hoppers into the furrow and spray them with crude oil or kerosene. The use of poison should be made illegal. Ornithologists, naturalists, and observant pastoralists and bushmen have known the danger of the poison-cart, and at intervals during the last 35 years have protested against its use. It is time the Government called together a conference of scientific and practical men to discuss the situation. Honorary organisations such as exist in the Mildura fruit districts during the present grasshopper plague could be made permanent, ready to attack at a day's notice. Farmers in their own interests would act as scouts, and notification of breeding-ground should be made compulsory."

The Sydney Morning Herald, Saturday 29 November 1890, page 5. A letter to the editor from 'Trigger' regarding larkspur and castor oil tree as controls for locusts and the destruction of locusts natural enemies, the birds, by poison baits set for rabbits. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13787868

"LOCUSTS
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.

Sir, Will you permit me to suggest that the seeds of the giant blue larkspur and the bean of the castoroil tree be extensively sown in the districts where the pests are bred and travel. The larkspur has been very successful in my own case when the pest have been at all moderate, so, also, with the young plant, or, rather, castoroil tree. The latter is by far the most fatal to them; in fact, the locust will fairly bury up the young plant so thickly will the dead accumulate under them. The larkspur seed should be sown in the autumn, otherwise it will not easily germinate, and, I think, the same rule will apply to the bean of the castoroil tree..."

'The locust' a print from 1890. Shows methods of locust destruction including: 'destruction by brush harrow', 'destruction by burning' and beating hoppers with bushy sticks. http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/miscpics/gid/slv-pic-aab19397/1/mp006130

Also See:

Effects on Agriculture

Balance of Nature