Locust Numbers Build in South Australia
Farmers in South Australia, north-west Victoria and western NSW report locust nymphs present but not yet causing problems.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Agriculture
Plague locust nymphs are present across parts of South Australia, north-west Victoria and western NSW, but farmers say they are not yet a serious problem. The Australian Plague Locust Commission has not observed bands large enough to warrant aerial baiting.
Why it matters
Locust numbers have been building because of unusually kind seasonal conditions through the outback, and swarms could develop later in the season. For Australian grain and pasture growers, the situation is being watched closely as warmer months approach.
Large numbers of nymphs hatched from September, bolstered by migration from south-west Queensland, but the Australian Plague Locust Commission has observed no bands large enough to warrant aerial baiting. Whether a large summer generation develops depends on where migrating swarms find rainfall, which remains unknown.
The players
Australian Plague Locust Commission
The national body that monitors plague locust populations and decides whether aerial baiting programs are needed.
The details
Farmers in the Flinders Ranges, eastern Mallee and Riverland in South Australia are among the key hotspots, with problems limited to a relatively small number of landholders in the eastern Mallee. Affected landholders have got on top of locust issues where needed.
Timeline
September: large numbers of locust nymphs began hatching.
Late October onwards: swarms are likely to develop.
Early November: migrations under suitable weather could begin.
Big Picture
The Australian Plague Locust Commission has not observed bands large enough to trigger its aerial baiting threshold, so the current build-up sits below the level that prompts intervention. Whether it crosses that line will depend on whether migrating swarms find rainfall in inland eastern Australia.
Growers in the affected regions should monitor paddocks for nymphs and locust movement as conditions change. Landholders who have already acted on local infestations are in a better position to respond if swarms form.
The takeaway
Growers should keep watch on local paddocks as the season warms, since current low-level numbers can change quickly if migrating swarms find rainfall.
What happens next
Swarms are likely to develop from late October onwards, and migrations under suitable weather could begin from early November.
Further reading
For more on the sector, see the Agriculture section.
