Caterpillar Plague Hits Aust. Graziers

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31621, 6 March 1968, Page 17

Caterpillar Plague Hits Aust. Graziers

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

BRISBANE, March 5.

Spread out like a huge carpet, millions of destructive caterpillars are slowly eating their way through some of the most productive grazing lands on the outskirts of Longreach, in western Queensland.

The caterpillar plague stems from the recent drought-breaking rain and the appearance of the first green shoots in the area for up to 12 years.

Harassed inhabitants of Longreach, 760 miles northwest of Brisbane, describe the marching army of caterpillars as “a vast yellow blanket.” Estimates of damage are not readily available, hut on some properties the caterpillars have advanced on to homesteads and ruined gardens and shrubs.

Caterpillars are not the only pests taxing the patience of people in the area—hordes of green beetles and brown army worms have also descended upon them, and for the last few days shopkeepers have been kept busy sweeping them out of their shops and storerooms. And, to add insult to injury, the incidence of larger' than-usual sandflies in the area has risen tremendously since the beginning of the month.