PLAGUE locust activity in the Central West is centred where summer storms fell, according to Local Land Services Central West invasive species and plant health team leader Lisa Thomas.
"If there is a green pick and moisture in the profile locusts have found those areas," she said.
There are still some active swarms in the area of New Mollyan, about 35 kilometres south of Coonabarabran, where significant egg beds have been located in a collective area of 3000 hectares.
Ms Thomas said at least 20 per cent of those eggs were expected to hatch and if left unattended would cause significant problems.
"Already we have reports of eaten-out crops on the Quirindi road from Coonabarabran," she said.
However, there is a saving grace as the season continues to dry.
"With conditions turned for the worse, while they are hatching, they may not reach second instar stage of maturity because there is not much feed for them to go on," Ms Thomas said.
"But locusts have followed the green and are drifting east towards Gulgong and Mudgee areas following the higher rainfalls.
Nonetheless, Ms Thomas feels there would be high mortalities by the time the locusts reached second instar stage.
Locusts go through five instar stages of life and shed their skin at each stage.
Swarm reports have also been recorded south of Gilgandra in the Leech's Creek area and Dapper/Spring Ridge road areas south of Dunedoo.
Ms Thomas said egg beds had been found at Rawsonville west of Dubbo and near Warren.
Coonabrabran agricultural consultant Bob Freebairn said several farmers in the area had sprayed for grasshoppers.
"The risk is they can quickly reinvade and that is what is happening," he said.
"Some have sown and damage is occurring.
"We are holding off sowing early dual purpose winter fodder crops."
The Australian Plague Locust Commission reported localised bands of pests in the eastern part of the Central West in March.
The commission forecasts low risk of widespread infestation across the state.
In the Riverina, adult numbers are likely to increase in the east of that region.
In the North West Slopes and Plains, some localised nymphs could develop in northern and eastern districts this month, and there is a moderate risk of immigration from south-west Queensland to Far West NSW in autumn.
A moderate population increase is likely in the far south-west of NSW.
Mark Griggs
Journalist for The Land at Dubbo.
Journalist for The Land at Dubbo.
