1934-11-09 - The Locust Plague - How did it Begin? Danger in Laying Poison

THE LOCUST PLAGUE - HOW DID IT BEGIN?
Danger in Laying Poison
By ALEC H. CHISHOLM
It may be true that there is a silver lining to every cloud, but It would be difficult to convince a farmer of this in relation to the cloud of grasshoppers now blighting many parts of Australia. Perhaps, however, all those millions of insects will not have lived in vain if their sudden uprising awakens Australians to a knowledge of how little is known of visitations of this kind. An entomologist said yesterday that Australia was the most backward country in the world in the study of insects and the knowledge of repressive measures. Possibly he meant that this was the most backward of the large agricultural countries. At any rate his remark merits attention.

Where did the grasshopper hordes come from? What has caused them to appear suddenly in such vast and menacing numbers? Men in the cities are asking these questions. They seem to think that answers should be well within the power of scientists. It is doubtful, however, whether anyone can do more than hazard guesses on the subject. Economic entomology is in its infancy in Australia, and little research among grasshoppers has been made. One suggestion is that the insects are apt to increase when large areas of land are cleared but left untilled. Another suggestion is that some unknown factor in a particular season promotes irruptions of grasshoppers. Actually scientists know little more of the subject than does the man in the street. Nor does it seem likely that they will know more until something in the nature of a bureau of biological survey is established. This will need to be an Australian-wide institution, since grasshoppers and kindred pests are not respecters of State boundaries. In the present plague the hordes seem to have arisen at various points in Queensland and New South Wales, and then, in one great mass, to have converged upon Victoria.

Medical scientists engaged in the fight against cancer say that if they could discover the cause of the disease they would be in a far better position to discover a cure. The same holds good in problems of economic entomology such as the one under notice. If Australia had a properly equipped biological bureau it should be possible to anticipate such visitations and perhaps to guard against them. Moreover, if prevention partially failed the knowledge gained doubtless would help toward a cure. At present the fight against the grasshoppers is largely experimental - a matter of striking blows at random. The firing of straw is effective up to a point. This used to be practised in some parts when hosts of grasshoppers in the flightless stage were seen. Another method being adopted in some parts, the use of poison baits, may do more harm than good.

When poison was laid for grasshoppers in another State some years ago the most striking result was the killing of a large number of insectivorous birds. Within a few days either the poisoned balts or the poisoned grasshoppers killed approximately 1,000 magpies and crows, and about 100 plain turkeys. There is, it would seem, a grave danger of this tragedy being repeated in Victoria if poison is broadcast.

Indeed it seems probable that the indiscriminate destruction of bustards (plain turkeys) in the west of Queensland and New South Wales has promoted the grasshopper plague, and it seems equally probable that some other plague will arise if many more birds are killed by poison laid for grasshoppers. It may be added that there are more than 100 different kinds of grasshoppers native to Australia, but only two or three kinds become serious pests. Grasshoppers are identical with the locusts of biblical fame, but the term "locusts" is often erroneously applied to those drummers of the trees, the cicadas.


FIGHTING GRASSHOPPER PLAGUE. (1934, November 9). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848-1954), p. 3. Retrieved November 17, 2010, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10992479

1934-11-09 - Scooped Up By Handfulls - Millions of Insects Poisoned, Ouyen Victoria

"SCOOPED UP BY HANDFULS"
Millions of Insects Poisoned
OUYEN Thursday. - When he arrived at Ouyen at 5 a.m. to-day the Minister for Agriculture (Mr. Allan) accompanied by the director of agriculture (Mr. H. A. Mullett) and the superintendent of Agriculture (Mr. J. Brake) motored to Boorongia and inspected the country infected with grasshoppers. They were impressed by the success of the poisoning campaign which is being conducted.

Warning farmers of the urgent need for immediate action to combat the pest, Mr. Allan said that he saw a paddock of 200 acres on which a strip from two or three chains in width had been eaten bare. Fortunately poisoning had checked the advance of the horde and crops would probably be saved. Millions of grasshoppers had been killed by the poison. It was possible to scoop the dead insects by handfuls. Once the grasshopper began to fly, however, there was very little hope. It was necessary to deal with the menace quickly to do any good.

Addressing farmers at Walpeup this afternoon Mr. Bussau M.L.A. said that the position was very grave and every farmer should help in preventing the pest from spreading. If they made a great effort to stamp out the menace now when they had every chance of success they would not only save this years crops, but would prevent a recurrence of the plague next season. At Ouyen tonight a public meeting of farmers made plans to intensify the campaign of destruction.

Damage at Kooloonong
SWAN HILL Thursday. -Grasshoppers reached Kooloonong and destroyed about 1,200 acres of crop belonging to Messrs. L. Sutton and A. Porteous. The grasshoppers are making for the south-west.


FIGHTING GRASSHOPPER PLAGUE. (1934, November 9). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848-1954), p. 3. Retrieved November 17, 2010, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10992479

1934-11-09 - Fighting Grasshopper Plague

FIGHTING GRASSHOPPER PLAGUE
POISONING MEETS WITH SUCCESS
AMPLE SUPPLIES IN MALLEE  
PROTECTING GRAPE CROPS WORTH £1,000,000

Every effort is being made in the Northern Mallee to exterminate the plague of grasshoppers before they reach the winged form and already gratifying success is reported. Ample supplies of poison have been sent to the areas affected and plans to intensify the campaign have been made.

Precautions are being made to protect the grape vines in the Red Cliffs district against the plague. There are about 30,000 acres of vines and it is estimated that the grapes from them will be worth £ 1,000,000. It is thought that while the grasshoppers are not in the winged form the vines can be protected. As a precaution, however, quantities of poison are being sent to Red Cliffs. If required this will be mixed with the spray which is normally used to protect the vines from black spot and so destroy the pests in the winged form.

Reports received yesterday by the Closer Settlement Commission showed that the grasshoppers were very thick in the wheat areas in the districts around Carwarp and Nowingi, and in some instances they were beginning to fly. Within a week it is expected that large numbers of them will be on the wing. They were also reported to be thick in the Robinvale and Annuello districts, where, however most of the crops have failed owing to the adverse season. Supplies of poison have been sent to the district, and preventive measures will be organised to-day.

In the Colignan district it was reported that 20 tons of a green wheat crop had been eaten by the grasshoppers in two hours. Elsewhere they were attacking the flag but not the head of the wheat, and in many cases the crops had been saved. As the crops dried there was less danger. A message was received from Mildura from Mr. Allnutt, M.L.A., pointing out that in one part the grasshoppers were on a front 20 miles in width and six miles in depth.Another report indicated that the grasshoppers were moving south and east toward Swan Hill. The dried fruit areas have not been affected yet. There is enough poison at Ouyen, Mildura, and Red Cliffs to cover a strip about 500 miles in length and of adequate width. This is considered ample for the present. Some anxiety is felt about the extent of the plague in the unsettled areas of the Mallee from which no reports have been received.

The Closer Settlement Commission has bought 100 tons of bran at £4/17/6 a ton for mixing with the poison and about 60 tons will be sent to the Mallee today.  Every facility is being provided by the Railways department to ensure the rapid transport of materials to the areas affected In the Mallee there are 2,600
closer settlers and settlers receiving some form of Government assistance. Reports received last night fiom the Mallee show that the grasshoppers have reached Werrimull, where some properties are badly infested. The insects are also near Nandaly, 20 miles north of Sea Lake and there are several swarms near Mittyack. Crops around Kulwin which promised record yields have suffered considerable damage. It was expected that this district would provide the best harvest in the Mallee. Supplies of poison are required at Sea Lake for growers to the north, who fear that the plague will soon spread to their districts. Grasshoppers have been found around Underbool, but not in sufficient numbers to cause alarm. According to reports oat crops at Linga are being attacked. Green feed has been eaten out completely at Merrinee, where crops are also suffering. Settlers met there last night to make plans to deal with the pest.

A report from Wentworth (N.S.W.) says that although the plague has reached Cardross within a few miles of the Red Cliffs fruit settlement, it is not considered that they will cross the Murray River into the New South Wales pastoral areas.

FIGHTING GRASSHOPPER PLAGUE. (1934, November 9). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848-1954), p. 3. Retrieved November 17, 2010, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10992479

1934-11-08. Invaders From The Air. Fight Against The Locust.

The following article is a good example of media exaggeration. Emotive and frightening language is used to conjure up images of plagues of Biblical proportions which cause famine and ruin when they 'convert smiling pastures into barren wastes, strip every bit of foliage within miles, and, almost overnight, change a fertile land into a desert.' The article offers very little in the way of practical solutions or advice and serves only as a means for increasing anxiety within the community. What's more, this article appeared in The Junior Argus, a supplement intended for children!

Invaders From The Air  
FIGHT AGAINST THE LOCUST  
Parts of Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria are being ravaged by hordes of grasshoppers.  Farmers are fighting hard to put down this pest, which threatens to wipe out crops and leave sheep  and cattle starving. Plagues of this nature are fairly common, especially in other parts of the world where the locust, a member of the grasshopper family, has been a problem since Biblical times, and probably before.  

It is difficult to realise just what a plague of  locusts means to a country. It will convert smiling pastures into barren wastes, strip every bit of foliage within miles, and, almost overnight, change a fertile land into a desert. Famine and ruin follow in the wake of a locust horde, which might travel hundreds of miles like a huge, black cloud, shutting out the sun, until it alights and marches like an army, devouring everything for miles around.  

A flight of locusts that passed over the Red Sea one day in November, 1889, was estimated to be 2,000 square miles in extent, which means that it would form a living blanket over an area one-fortieth the size of Victoria. These migrations might extend for great distances, and swarms of  locusts have been known to invade ships 2,000  miles from land.  Man has so far not been very successful in his fight against this terrible pest, although he has done much to reduce its ravages. It is estimated that 200,000,000,000 were destroyed in Cyprus alone one year. They still breed in most countries satisfying their terrible hunger, and setting man one of his most pressing problems in his fight for existence.


Invaders From The Air. (1934, November 8). The Argus(Melbourne, Vic. : 1848-1954), p. 1 Supplement: The Junior Argus. Retrieved November 13, 2010, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10992087


For further discussion about the fear of locusts, listen to this radio interview on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's (ABC) Bush Telegraph Program which aired on Tuesday 9 November 2010: Understanding the fear of locusts. 

1934-11-07. Poison and Fire to Fight Plague. Ouyen, Victoria.

Poison and Fire to Fight Plague
OUYEN, Tuesday. — Although many farmers are not yet alive to the necessity of joining in the campaign to combat the grasshopper plague, which threatens crops in this area, good work is being done under the direction of the assistant Government entomologist (Mr. T. M. Ward). Millions of insects have been destroyed by poison baits.  After the swarm had passed through Mr. W. Goodrem's oat crop, east of Ouyen, it looked as if a binder had been over it. By using a fire rake and loose hay Mr. L. Vines considers that he obtained a 50 per cent kill on his property. Mr. C. Gerloff was able to turn a large swarm of insects which were advancing in his crop, by building a low wall of straw in front of them and firing it.


Poison and Fire to Fight Plague. (1934, November 7). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848-1954), p. 16. Retrieved November 13, 2010, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10991825

1934-11-06. Grasshoppers in Three States. Poison Over the Mallee. Ouyen, Victoria.

GRASSHOPPERS IN THREE STATES.
POISON OVER THE MALLEE.
Efforts to Save Pastures.
OUYEN, Monday. — Ever-increasing hordes of grasshoppers are threatening crops in the Mallee. The Department of Agriculture is sending more officers to Ouyen to-day to help the farmers to get the plague under control while it is still in the infant stage. The assistant entomologist (Mr. Ward) worked all day yesterday and to-day with Messrs. Clarke, Goodrem, Vines and Christie spreading poison bait. Although millions of grasshoppers have been killed millions continue to attack the pastures. They are now making inroads on Mr. W. Goodrem's wheat crop.

Arsenate of soda and bran in a dry form is being used as a poison. In some places the grasshoppers have passed over the poison, but more is being spread in front of their path. The pest has now appeared at Kiamal, Woornack, Boulka and Wymlet. Mr. W. J. Clarke, who lost nearly 1000 acres of pasture is the heaviest loser. He believes that only aeroplanes using poison-gas can arrest the destructive invaders.

GRASSHOPPERS IN THREE STATES. (1934, November 6).The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848-1954), p. 3. Retrieved November 13, 2010, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10991732

1934-10-17. Grasshopper Plague Feared. Gayfield, Victoria.

Grasshopper Plague Feared 
OUYEN, Tuesday. Fears that the grasshopper plague, which has been causing trouble in other States, may be extended to the Mallee have been aroused by a report that the pest has made its appearance in the Gayfield district. Mr S. Carmichael, of the Closer Settlement Commission, states that the grasshoppers there are small and they have not done any appreciable damage to crops. 

Grasshopper Plague Feared. (1934, October 17). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848-1954), p. 16. Retrieved November 13, 2010, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10978958

Welcome

In Victoria we are currently being told that this year we could see 'the worst locust plague in 75 years' and that 'a plague like this effects everyone'.

All of this media attention and advertising has caused me to ask - what exactly happened in Victoria 75 years ago?

To answer this question I have first turned to the historical newspapers  (most notably The Argus) available through the National Library of Australia's Trove search facility.  I realise that relying on one source of information can present a bias. With this in mind I will later turn to other sources of information about locust history in Victoria. For the time being, however, I will present on this blog the progression of the 1934/35 locust plague in Victoria as reported in The Argus.

What do I hope to achieve? There are a lot of myths out there about locust plagues. I hope to make people a little better informed about the history of locust plagues in Victoria, including the exaggerations of the media, political pressures and behind the scenes manipulations of producers and distributors of poisons and other chemical means of  locust 'control'. I hope in this way that people will gain a better understanding about the damages locust plagues actually caused in the past, and perhaps be able to encourage people to seek other ways to minimise locust damage in the future using environmentally safe methods.

The current approach to locust management, treating locusts with chemical and biological insecticides, is dangerous to the health of farmers and the community and seriously detrimental to natural ecosystems.  For further information please see the SaveTheLocust website. Yes, this web site has an interesting title...but please look beyond the title and actually appreciate that the author has experience and that his ideas are worth pursuing.