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
On 24/09/2010, at 7:45 AM, Colin R wrote:
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....
--
Colin Reid
So many birds, so little time......
--
http://www.fastmail.fm - Does exactly what it says on the tin
--
Colin Reid
So many birds, so little time......
--
http://www.fastmail.fm - The way an email service should be
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