Spraying for Locusts – RFI
By Birding-Aus, on September 24th, 2010
Hi Does anyone have any idea of the impact of spraying thousands of litres of poison on 6 trillion grasshoppers? Should we be concerned? It maybe a really naive question to which the only answer may be “of course we freaking should be!!” but I’m curious – does anyone know anything about the chemicals that will/are being used? Everyone seems to be casually planning this but there doesn’t seem to be any opinions re any possible damage to the environment or the wildlife. I know the farmers are God Almighty here and the economy certainly would take a hit if the crops were decimated, but I’d be interested to know what the ‘side effect’ damage might be….
On-line copy of MSDS: http://www.davidgray.com.au/files/MSDS%20David%20Grays%20Fenitrothion%201000%20_Jan-10_.pdf
Quite nasty stuff to handle.
Also: ” ECOTOXICITY: Fenitrothion is highly toxic to birds, fish and bees and moderately toxic to pets and livestock. Fenitrothion does not bioaccumulate in animal systems.
PERSISTENCE AND DEGRADABILITY: In soil Fenitrothion is readily degraded by hydrolysis and microbial action. The half-life of fenitrothion may range between four and one hundred and sixty days, depending on climatic conditions and soil types.
”
I was interviewed on Bush Telegraph a couple of months ago re this topic and gave a recipe for Crispy Fried Grasshopper in Sake. Over a decade ago I suggested we begin exporting locusts to Japan where they are a scarce delicacy, scarce because of the loss of rice paddies and verges.
Denise
The Department of Primary Industries in Victoria has set up a section of their website to deal with the locust plague, with emphasis on the use of chemicals to control them:
http://new.dpi.vic.gov.au/agriculture/pests-diseases-and-weeds/plague-locust s
There is a specific section providing information on the chemicals:
http://new.dpi.vic.gov.au/agriculture/pests-diseases-and-weeds/plague-locust s/chemical-information
Interestingly, when you go to this section (which includes a tool for calculating the amount of chemicals you would need to spray your farm) it says, “DPI on behalf of the State of Victoria and its employees does not expressly or impliedly endorse or recommend the chemical products referred to in this tool.”
Paul Dodd Docklands, Victoria
Hi Colin and others,
Here is a link to a you tube anti-spraying video The relevant web site is http://www.savethelocust.com
Another approach is to eat the locusts. Hear all about it on Radio National’s Bush Telegraph. http://www.abc.net.au/rural/telegraph/content/2010/s3021113.htm
Cheers, Merrilyn
Colin R wrote: ===============================
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A review of a range of studies, including the one highlighted by Laurie, can be found on pp. 317-323 of the following report:
http://www.apvma.gov.au/products/review/docs/fenitrothion_env.pdf
Stephen Ambrose Ryde NSW
Thanks Laurie,
I will pass it on to my mate, who will be able to pull the paper down via the Ag system and can send me a copy. Us poor old pensioners can’t afford the likes of such frippery as paying JStore. Eats into the birding?travel fund:-)
Cheers,
Carl
you can see the abstract for one study at http://www.jstor.org/pss/2403785
LK
href=”mailto:jangles@fastmail.fm”>jangles@fastmail.fm
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Thanks Carl. I can understand the need and would really like to believe there is 1. no choice and 2. minimal effect. I also appreciate that the land left behind the swarm is de-nuded to a great extent, possibly condemning the survivors to a death by starvation anyway. My concern is for the flocks of birds – Woodswallows, Ibis, Raptors etc – that feed on the locusts. Its a real shame some encouragement cannot be given to providing for these species to increase their numbers so as to manage, even if only partially, these eruptions when they occur. Maybe that natural type solution is just not feasible. I guess its like trying to increase the number of Letter-winged Kites to deal with the occasional mice plagues. What do they eat when the plague is over? I can only hope the spray is both limited in duration and area and, as you say, used ‘as per the label’.
Thank you to all who responded – happy to hear any other discussion for those who have suggestions/opinions/experiences to share.
Cheers
Colin Brisbane
On Fri, 24 Sep 2010 13:28 +1000, “Carl Clifford” wrote: href=”mailto:jangles@fastmail.fm”>jangles@fastmail.fm href=”mailto:jangles@fastmail.fm”>jangles@fastmail.fm href=”mailto:birding-aus-request@vicnet.net.au”>birding-aus-request@vicnet.net.au
you can see the abstract for one study at http://www.jstor.org/pss/2403785
LK
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Colin, et al,
I know what the side effects of not spraying would do. A full on uncontrolled plague is amazing to watch and walk amongst. I still have my olive coloured work trousers with the little holes in the lower legs, left behind by the little blighters when I walked through an area which was just a carpet of locusts. Once that “must-eat-green” gene kicks in, it is amazing what they will eat, right down to green paint.
I have rung a mate in NSW Ag, in Dubbo, and asked what was being used for PL control in this outbreak and it is Fenitrothion (if anyone wants the MSDSs for it, my mate has sent me copies and I would be happy to forward them on. Fenitrothion is very effective in invertebrates and there have been lots of field trials in the various states over the years, even deliberately spraying stock and the pasture they consumed, and it has been determined to be the safest for use in this sutuation, as long as it is applied as per label. The weakest link in this application of Fenitrothion is the operator who is applying the spray. The aerial spray operators that are around these days, as the GFC and the drought has sorted them out.
What the long term effects are, who knows? Come back in a 1,00 years is probably the best answer. That’s if there are any H. saps left in 1,00 years to do the research.
It is not only the effects on the rural sector which prompts control programs such as that those underway, the native flora and fauna suffer as well. the ground behind a swarm whose eat-green switches have tripped leave virtually no vegetation or floral parts behind, this not only affects the plant feeding birds but the insectivores, as the insects food sources have gone. Plague Locust control unfortunately is not an area where there are much in the way of win- win scenarios, it is, unfortunately, a matter of choosing the course of less risk.
I unfortunately have not been able to quickly find any research on any adverse effects on birds that consume PLs that have been killed by Fenitrothion. If anyone out there has the results of any research on these effects, I would be interested in the details, as would my mate in Dubbo ( he is a part-time with a 6 year old twitcher for a son
Cheers,
Carl Clifford
Hi Does anyone have any idea of the impact of spraying thousands of litres of poison on 6 trillion grasshoppers? Should we be concerned? It maybe a really naive question to which the only answer may be “of course we freaking should be!!” but I’m curious – does anyone know anything about the chemicals that will/are being used? Everyone seems to be casually planning this but there doesn’t seem to be any opinions re any possible damage to the environment or the wildlife. I know the farmers are God Almighty here and the economy certainly would take a hit if the crops were decimated, but I’d be interested to know what the ‘side effect’ damage might be….