50 years of the APLC: locust surveillance, control and research
| Wednesday, May 8, 2024 |
| 2:35 PM - 2:45 PM |
Overview
Heath McRae, Deputy Director, Australian Plague Locust Commission, DAFF
Speaker
Mr Heath McRae
Deputy Director - Surveillance
Australian Plague Locust Commission
50 years of the APLC: locust surveillance, control and research
Abstract
The Australian Plague Locust Commission was established in 1974 in recognition of the need for a national approach to locust control and research. We are funded jointly by the Commonwealth and each of our four member states of New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria and Queensland and operate under the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry.
The APLCs primary charter is to control locust populations that may pose a threat to multiple member states and collaborate with state teams and landholders to help monitor and manage locust populations.
Staff from head office in Canberra and three field bases undertake targeted regular surveys through the 2 million square kilometres of potential locust build up and outbreak areas. Monitoring is enhanced by state counterparts, public reporting, and radar and light trap monitoring for locust movements.
This information is modelled with locust biology and data on environmental variables that affect locusts and their development, including vegetation, rainfall, temperature, and various other factors to provide accurate short and long term forecasts. Monthly locust bulletins provide forecasts and known locust distributions for stakeholders.
Where locust density and number reach a certain threshold the APLC will undertake aerial surveillance and control operations. Three control agents are currently used, Fenitrothion a fast knock down short residual blanket treatment, Fipronil a longer lasting contact and ingested insecticide used as a barrier treatment and Metarhizium acridum a biological fungal pathogen of locusts.
50 years of the APLC research program has been an integral part of building our control and forecasting capabilities. Our three core research areas include control, environmental management, and locust biology.
Our control program has led us to be world-leaders in use of ultra-low volume insecticides for direct control. Also, the development of barrier treatment methods that reduces overall area treated as well as the amounts of insecticides and time required to aerially treat large inland pastoral areas where locust outbreaks tend to originate. APLC researchers also worked with CSIRO to develop Metarhizium acridum into a bio-insecticide formula Green Guard, giving us a ULV control option appropriate for large
The APLCs primary charter is to control locust populations that may pose a threat to multiple member states and collaborate with state teams and landholders to help monitor and manage locust populations.
Staff from head office in Canberra and three field bases undertake targeted regular surveys through the 2 million square kilometres of potential locust build up and outbreak areas. Monitoring is enhanced by state counterparts, public reporting, and radar and light trap monitoring for locust movements.
This information is modelled with locust biology and data on environmental variables that affect locusts and their development, including vegetation, rainfall, temperature, and various other factors to provide accurate short and long term forecasts. Monthly locust bulletins provide forecasts and known locust distributions for stakeholders.
Where locust density and number reach a certain threshold the APLC will undertake aerial surveillance and control operations. Three control agents are currently used, Fenitrothion a fast knock down short residual blanket treatment, Fipronil a longer lasting contact and ingested insecticide used as a barrier treatment and Metarhizium acridum a biological fungal pathogen of locusts.
50 years of the APLC research program has been an integral part of building our control and forecasting capabilities. Our three core research areas include control, environmental management, and locust biology.
Our control program has led us to be world-leaders in use of ultra-low volume insecticides for direct control. Also, the development of barrier treatment methods that reduces overall area treated as well as the amounts of insecticides and time required to aerially treat large inland pastoral areas where locust outbreaks tend to originate. APLC researchers also worked with CSIRO to develop Metarhizium acridum into a bio-insecticide formula Green Guard, giving us a ULV control option appropriate for large
Biography
