from little things - locusts in nsw
DESCRIPTION
Did you know? This spring (2010) in NSW a plague of locusts is due. Find out what you can do.TRANSCRIPT
FROM LITTLE THINGS BIG THINGS GROW
Did you know
from little things
big things grow
POP QUIZ
name the natural disaster
flood
drought
dust storm
locusts
from little locustshttp://www.daff.gov.au/animal-plant-health/locusts
big disasters grow
Did you know
Locusts change from individuals doing their own thing to ravenous armies working together.
What causes the change?
…. in other words
population
locust numbers
When population density is low, locusts behave as individuals, much like grasshoppers.
http://www.daff.gov.au/animal-plant-health/locusts
When population density is high, individuals undergo changes, andthey form into gregariously behaving bands of nymphs or swarms of adults.
http://www.daff.gov.au/animal-plant-health/locusts
Swarms may contain millions of locusts and cover an area of several square kilometres.
http://www.daff.gov.au/animal-plant-health/locusts
Did you know
An Australian plague locust can eat up to half its body weight in plants each dayor about 0.2g.
http://www.daff.gov.au/animal-plant health/locusts/about/faqs
POP QUIZ
Name the biggest eater
A herd of wild elephants or a swarm of locusts?
A big enough swarm of locusts could eat more than a herd of wild elephants.
Watch amazing time-lapse footage of locusts moving across African deserts in the next slide.
Ravenous locust swarms can do severe damage to pasture, to cereal crops such as wheat and oats, and to summer forage crops such as sorghum and lucerne. In closely settled districts, vegetables and even orchard trees can be badly damaged.http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/pests-weeds/insects/general/locusts
Changes in body shape and colour, and in fertility, survival and migratory behaviour also occur. These changes are so dramatic in many species that the swarming and non-swarming forms were once considered to be different species.http://www.daff.gov.au/animal-plant-health/locusts
View a simple experiment on how locusts perceive the signal to swarm in the next slide.
POP QUIZ
When locusts strike in Australia who’s affected?
farmers
consumers
exporters
… in other words
everyone
Did you know
this spring in a field near you
a locust plague is due
Locust eggs
POP QUIZ
What can bedone to save our food?
* keep an eye on the news
* check websites for sightings http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/pests-weeds/insects/general/locusts
* find out about control methods
know what to look for
Can you spot the locust eggs?
download a guide
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/pests-weeds/insects/general/locusts
http://www.daff.gov.au/animal-plant-health/locusts/about/id-guide
Is this a locust?
http://www.daff.gov.au/animal-plant-health/locusts/about/id-guide/description_of_adults/9._giant_or_hedge_grasshopper_valanga_irregularis
No way…I’m Australia’s biggest grasshopper. I have red spines with black tips on my legs. Plague locusts are much smaller.
If you see something,
say something.
And help .. .
and if you can’t beat ‘em … some people eat ‘em
Locusts are high in protein and eaten in several countries.
They are stir fried, roasted, grilled, boiled or dried and kept for later.
For a bit of extra crunch a how does a locust taco sound?
Take a look at this and other recipes from around the world on the United Nations locust web pages: http://www.fao.org/ag/locusts/en/info/info/faq/index.html
But before you take a bite remember…..
In Australia we spray to kill
locusts so we can’t eat them.
a presentation by:
http://www.landlearnnsw.org.au