Small Australian plague locust

Chortoicetes pusilla is a species of grasshopper belonging to the Acrididae family within the order Orthoptera. Commonly referred to as the small Australian plague locust, this insect is indigenous to arid and semi-arid regions of Australia. Its biology is finely tuned to exploit short periods of resource abundance in otherwise challenging environments.

This pest is known for its polyphagous nature, although it demonstrates a strong preference for graminaceous crops. It causes significant damage to various cereal crops, including wheat and barley, as well as native and improved pasture grasses. When population densities reach outbreak levels, the insect can cause extensive economic losses for farmers.

The life cycle involves incomplete metamorphosis consisting of three main stages: egg, nymph, and adult. Eggs are laid in the soil within protective egg pods, known as oothecae. Nymphs hatch and go through several instars before developing wings. The speed of this development is highly dependent on ambient temperature and soil moisture levels, which determine the rate of nymph emergence.

The damage profile is characterized by severe defoliation and the destruction of plant stems, which often leads to the complete loss of crop yield. Furthermore, the insect’s feeding activity can reduce the photosynthetic capacity of the remaining plant tissue. The rapid consumption rate of the locusts creates an immediate threat that can devastate large tracts of farmland in a very short duration.

Effective management requires a combination of monitoring and control strategies. Regular scouting of known breeding grounds to detect nymph bands is essential. Control tactics include:

• Application of contact or systemic insecticides during the early nymphal stages.
• Soil cultivation, such as deep tilling or discing, to destroy egg pods.
• Biological control through the encouragement of natural predators.
• Strategic grazing management to reduce favorable conditions for locust survival.