APLC - Annual Report 2006-2007 - Department of Agriculture ...

Australian Plague
Locust Commission
Activity Report
2006-2007

Contents
Introduction............................................................................................................................ 1
Commissioners....................................................................................................................... 2
Research Review Committee................................................................................................. 3
Review of the 2006-2007 Season .......................................................................................... 4
Operations............................................................................................................................ 11
Administration ..................................................................................................................... 15
Finance................................................................................................................................. 16
Key Performance Indicators ................................................................................................ 17
Research............................................................................................................................... 18
Publications.......................................................................................................................... 34
Figures
Figure 1. Australian plague locust distributions in October 2006. ........................................ 6
Figure 2. Australian plague locust distribution in January 2007. .......................................... 7
Figure 3. Australian plague locust distribution in March 2007. ............................................ 8
Figure 4. Wood loss due to termite feeding in paired unsprayed (UNspr) and fipronil
sprayed (spr) sites on two soil types near Tambo. ............................................................... 19
Figure 5. Cardboard loss due to termite feeding in paired unsprayed (UNspr) and fipronil
sprayed (spr) sites on two soil types near Tambo. ............................................................... 20
Figure 6. Acute toxicity of fipronil to ant assemblages at 12 sites (6 treated and 6 untreated)
near Tambo in 2006. ............................................................................................................ 20
Figure 7. Artificial damage to termite mound at “Sandy Creek” experimental site near
Tambo, September 2006. ..................................................................................................... 21
Figure 8. Water contents of two soil types at 10 cm depth following interception of rain.. 23
Figure 9. Survival of Australian plague locust eggs versus moisture content and suction.. 24
Figure 10. Abdominal fat content and egg development of spur-throated locusts caught in
the APLC’s light trap at Julia Creek.................................................................................... 25
Figure 11. Greenness of 500 square kilometre region centred on Julia Creek on 22 October
2005 (left) and 20 May 2006 (right). ................................................................................... 25
Figure 12. Examples of density-dependent behavioural phase change in Australian plague
locust hoppers. ..................................................................................................................... 33
i

Tables
Table 1. Control operations 2006-07 ................................................................................... 12
Table 2. Area treated (km2) by pesticide type 2006-07....................................................... 12
Table 3. Pesticide stock 2006-07 ......................................................................................... 13
Table 4. Bio-pesticide stock (1) 2006-07............................................................................. 13
Table 5. Staffing position at 30 June 2007 and days away from base 2006-07................... 16
Table 6. Performance against KPIs...................................................................................... 17
Table 7. Statistical tests pertaining to presence/absence of meat ants and repair of termite
mounds in fipronil treated and untreated sites near Tambo................................................. 22
Table 8. Bioassay battery developed for the evaluation of pesticides ................................. 32
Annexes
Annex 1: Environmental Management System: Objectives and conformance ................... 35
Annex 2: Implementation of external review recommendations......................................... 36
Annex 3: Revenue 2006-07 ................................................................................................. 37
Annex 4: Expenses 2006-07 ................................................................................................ 37
Annex 5: Accumulated Results............................................................................................ 38
ii

Introduction
The Australian Plague Locust Commission (APLC) was established in 1974 and began
operations in late 1976. The Commission is financed by the states of New South Wales,
Victoria, South Australia and Queensland, with a matching contribution from the
Australian Government. The Commission consists of six Commissioners: one from each
contributing State, one each from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
(DAFF) and the Department of the Environment and Water Resources, and a Director
assisted by permanent staff. The Director and staff are members of the DAFF. Observers
may be invited to attend Commissioners’ meetings subject to agreement by
Commissioners. The Commission is responsible to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries
and Forestry and State Premiers.
APLC Charter
In August 2002, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between the
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry on behalf of the Australian Government
and participating member states effectively replacing the original (1974) Exchange of
Letters under which the APLC was established. The MOU also incorporated a Charter that
replaced the original terms of reference under which the APLC had operated since its
establishment.
The purpose of the APLC, as defined in the Charter, is “to control locust populations in
those situations where they have the potential to inflict significant damage to agricultural
industries in more than one member state.” In fulfilling its charter the APLC is required to:
� Implement a preventive control strategy to minimise economic loss to agricultural
industries caused by the Australian plague locust, spur-throated locust and
migratory locust, with priority given to Australian plague locust.
� Minimise risk of locust control to the natural environment, human health and
markets for Australian produce.
� Develop improved locust management practices through a targeted research
program.
� Provide a monitoring and forecasting system for operations conducted by APLC
and member states.
� Promote and facilitate adoption of best practice in locust control by member states.
� Participate in cooperative national and international programs for development of
APLC expertise.
� Continually review APLC operations to ensure they keep pace with the expectations
of industry, community and government.
1

Commissioners
Mr Steve McCutcheon (Chairperson)
Executive Manager
Product Integrity, Animal and Plant Health
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
GPO Box 858 Canberra ACT 2601
Mr Greg Plummer
Director, Risk Assessment Section
Department of the Environment and Water Resources
GPO Box 787 Canberra ACT 2601
Mr Graeme Eggleston
Director – Emergencies, Weeds and Pest Animals
NSW Department of Primary Industries
Locked Bag 21 Orange NSW 2800
Dr Malcolm Campbell
Principal Scientist, Science Quality
Department of Primary Industries Victoria
Private Bag 1 Tatura, Vic 3616
Mr David Cartwright
Manager, Plant Health Policy
Primary Industries and Resources SA
GPO Box 1671 Adelaide SA 5001
Dr Bruce Wilson
General Manager, Invasive Plants and Animals
Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries
GPO Box 46
Brisbane QLD 4001
Observer
Mr Jim Wrenford
"Kilto"
Adelong
NSW 2729
Director
Mr Laury McCulloch
Australian Plague Locust Commission
Product Integrity, Animal and Plant Health
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
GPO Box 858 Canberra ACT 2601
2

Research Review Committee
Dr Malcolm Campbell (Chairperson)
Principal Scientist, Science Quality
Department of Primary Industries Victoria
Private Bag 1 Tatura, Vic 3616
Prof Myron Zalucki
Department of Integrative Biology
The University of Queensland - St Lucia
Brisbane, Qld 4072
Mr Phil Sinclair
Chemical Assessment Section
Environment Protection Branch
Environmental Quality Division
Department of the Environment and Water Resources
GPO Box 787 Canberra ACT 2601
3

Review of the 2006-2007 Season
Populations of the Australian plague locust generally remained at low levels throughout
eastern Australia in 2006-07 with persistent drought conditions limiting opportunities for
breeding and multiplication. Only small scale control operations were undertaken against a
localised locust outbreak that developed in the Tambo area of central Queensland in
December 2006 following heavy rainfall in November. Initial indications suggest that the
passage of a rain bearing weather system in Tambo in early November 2006 may have led
to the aggregation and concentration of adult locusts into swarms which, following
breeding, gave rise to the subsequent outbreak. In Western Australia major locust
populations developed in both spring and summer and large scale control operations were
undertaken by the Western Australian Department of Agriculture and Food.
A comprehensive review of aerial safety was finalised during the year. The overall
objective of the review was to ensure that APLC aerial operations minimised risks to staff
and aerial operators. The review, whilst concluding that the APLC had adequate safeguards
and risk mitigation measures in place, recommended a number of actions to further
mitigate the risks associated with APLC aerial operations. All of the review
recommendations directly relating to operational aspects of APLC aerial operations were
implemented in early 2007, whilst other recommendations related to governance issues will
be progressed in 2007-08.
A supplementary economic study, commissioned by the APLC and undertaken by the
Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economic (ABARE), was completed
during the year. The report, analysing APLC control activities for the years 1999-2000 to
2004-2005, was released in January 2007. The study estimated a benefit: cost ratio of
approximately 20:1 for early intervention by the APLC against significant locust
populations in remote areas as a preventative measure against potential impacts from
subsequent generation(s).
There was considerable progress in terms of research with a number of studies, including
the overlap of Plains Wanderer and locust habitat in the NSW Riverina and locust
migration studies, completed. Progress was also made in studies on the use of fipronil
including non target impacts and the development of a new application method which has
potential to reduce environmental impact.
Laury McCulloch
Director
4

Locust Situation
Australian Plague Locust
Overview
Locust populations remained at generally low levels throughout most of the spring as
severe drought conditions persisted across eastern Australia. Data from the National
Climate Centre indicated that most of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and
Queensland had received only around 20 to 40 percent of its average rainfall between
September and November 2006. However, following substantial above average rainfall in
November 2006 a small scale locust outbreak developed in the Tambo area of central
Queensland. Immediately prior to the rain, ground surveys had found only relatively low
numbers of adult locusts, ranging in density from Isolated to Numerous, in the Tambo area.
However, several days after the rain a number of low density swarms and concentrations
were located in the area. This strongly suggests that the weather system that resulted in
heavy rainfall in early November concentrated relatively low density adult locusts,
presumably from a wider area, into swarms. A small-scale control campaign was
undertaken against a hopper band population that formed following successful breeding in
the area in December 2006.
New South Wales
In October 2006 a few small areas of low density plague locust nymphs, mixed with other
species, were present in the Moree, Narrabri and Northern Slopes areas and some small
scale landholder control was undertaken (Figure 1). Only very low numbers of adult
locusts were found by surveys throughout New South Wales between November 2006 and
February 2007 (Figure 2). However, in March 2007, there was an apparent increase from
low to medium densities in adult numbers mainly in parts of the Far Western region of
New South Wales (Figure 3). The increase was possibly due to some localised breeding
because several small areas of numerous late instar nymphs were found in the Brewarrina
district in early March which possibly augmented small-scale migration of adults from
Queensland or from eastern New South Wales. APLC light traps at White Cliffs and
Fowlers Gap in western New South Wales recorded locust activity in mid-late March
suggesting some low level migration of adult locusts had occurred. The distribution and
density of adult locust populations as surveyed in March and April 2007 would not suggest
that any major locust population would be likely to develop in the spring.
5

Nymph densities Adult densities
Present Nil-Isolated
Numerous-Sub band Isolated-Scattered
Bands Scattered-Numerous
• APLC Light Trap Numerous-Concentration
Swarms
Densities estimated for areas of locust habitat, based on survey and reports
Figure 1. Australian plague locust distributions in October 2006.
6

Nymph densities Adult densities
Present Nil-Isolated
Numerous-Sub band Isolated-Scattered
Bands Scattered-Numerous
• APLC Light Trap Numerous-Concentration
Swarms
Densities estimated for areas of locust habitat, based on survey and reports
Figure 2. Australian plague locust distribution in January 2007.
7

Nymph densities Adult densities
Present Nil-Isolated
Numerous-Sub band Isolated-Scattered
Bands Scattered-Numerous
• APLC Light Trap Numerous-Concentration
Swarms
Densities estimated for areas of locust habitat, based on survey and reports
Figure 3. Australian plague locust distribution in March 2007.
8

Queensland
In September 2006 very few locusts were found in Queensland apart from one small area of
high density nymphs and adults near Windorah which dispersed by the end of the month.
Only Isolated density adult locusts were found by survey in Queensland during October
with the exception of the Tambo area where scattered density adult locusts were recorded
in a few areas.
In early November, numerous density adults and nymphs were found at several locations in
the Tambo area. Following heavy rain in the Tambo area on 2-3 November, several small
swarms and adult concentrations were found by ground survey and egg laying was in
progress. The survey results strongly suggest that adult locusts were concentrated into
swarms by the rain system in early November. A rapid helicopter survey undertaken in the
Tambo area in mid November confirmed that the infestation was confined to a relatively
small area south of Tambo. Subsequently, bands formed in the area in early December and
control operations were undertaken during 14-19 December. Fledging commenced in early
January and a few areas of concentration density adults formed but did not warrant further
control intervention. Elsewhere in Queensland only low numbers of locusts were detected
by surveys during December.
Widespread heavy rain fell across most of the Channel Country of southwest Queensland
and adjacent areas of neighbouring states in mid January 2007. There was concern, based
on historical infestations, that the rainfall could lead to a significant locust outbreak.
Therefore, as a precautionary measure, an extensive aerial survey for hopper bands was
undertaken in southwest Queensland in February. No hopper bands were detected from the
air, or by ground survey which was limited due to widespread flooding, suggesting that no
significant breeding occurred immediately after the January rains. However, adult locusts
were caught by the light trap at ‘Nooyeah Downs’ in early February and relatively high
catches continued throughout the month.
Following reports in late March 2007, high density hopper populations, comprising a
number of small fledging hopper bands and concentrations of young adults, were found at
several locations along the Bulloo and Wilson rivers in southwest Queensland. Fledging
continued into early April. However, populations in both locations had decreased markedly
by late April indicating that migration had occurred. Numerous density young adults were
subsequently found in other areas of southwest Queensland and far western New South
Wales.
Victoria
Few locusts were present in Victoria during 2006-07. A few isolated hatchings and areas of
low density nymphs were reported in October and November 2006 from several localities
in Victoria including Gunbower Island Swifts Creek, Bendigo and Baringhup. There were
no further reports of locust activity in Victoria after November 2006. The persistent
drought conditions that affected Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia
throughout most of the spring and summer would have severely limited local breeding or
long distance immigration by adult locusts.
South Australia
A localised infestation of hopper bands developed in the Nullarbor area of western South
Australia in the spring. Landholders carried out control of bands and the population
declined by early summer. The infestation resulted from breeding by adult locusts present
9

in the area in April 2006. Those adults may have derived from a previous adult generation
that had migrated into the area following heavy rainfall in January 2006.
Extensive ground surveys of northern South Australia between January and March 2007
found only very low numbers of adult locusts. In late March there were several reports of
locust activity in the Far North region at Frome Downs and Moomba. Surveys however
found only low numbers of adults. In early April there were further reports of low density
locusts and some egg laying from the Eyre Peninsula west of Whyalla. These locusts
possibly migrated from the population which fledged in southwest Queensland in late
March.
Western Australia
Major locust infestations developed in both the spring and summer in Western Australia. In
the spring a major infestation developed across a large part of the wheat-belt from Moora in
the north and as far south as Kojonup. Western Australian Department of Agriculture and
Food undertook a major aerial control campaign in which 380,000 ha of infestations were
controlled. However, swarms formed and there was some breeding reported in southern
parts of the agricultural area in December. These swarms drifted further south and bred in
the southern Shires of Cranbrook, Plantagenet, Albany, and Jerramungup. Another
generation of hopper bands developed in January and February in these areas, requiring
further control measures. A number of swarms formed in the Ravensthorpe area in March
2007 and adult locusts were also reported in the Esperance area. Some egg laying is likely
to have occurred in both these areas in the autumn.
Spur-throated Locust
A widespread low density background population of spur-throated locust was present in the
Central Highlands, Central West and South Central districts of Queensland, extending
south into the Moree and Northern Slopes RLPBs of New South Wales, in spring 2006. In
Queensland successful breeding occurred after heavy summer rains in December and
January, and by March 2007 there were medium density young adults and nymphs at up to
sub-band density in numerous locations in the southwest, central west and northwest
Queensland.
Migratory Locust
Migratory Locust populations remained at low levels throughout 2006-07 with only low
numbers present in the Central Highlands and Central West regions of Queensland.
Small Plague Grasshopper
A significant outbreak of the small plague grasshopper (Austroicetes cruciata) developed in
the Orroroo-Hawker area of South Australia in the spring. Aerial control operations were
carried out from late September through to late October 2006 by South Australian
authorities. There were also reports of grasshoppers from the Riverina and southwest New
South Wales, and surveys found Austroicetes spp., in places up to swarm density, in these
districts during October. However, by December 2006 these populations had declined
substantially.
10

Operations
The Operational Plan for 2006-2007 was endorsed by Commissioners in August 2006. The
plan defined expected outcomes to be achieved by the APLC during the year together with
planned outputs and risks.
Forecasting, Information and Survey
Seven Locust Bulletins were issued during the period October 2006 to April 2007. In
addition, when control operations were undertaken in the Tambo area the APLC provided
stakeholders with details of its control operations through several issues of its Locust
Management Advice during November-December 2006.
In February 2007 an extensive fixed wing aerial survey was undertaken in the Channel
Country of Queensland following heavy rainfall that had severely restricted ground
surveys. The aerial surveys were a precautionary measure to ascertain whether significant
hopper band populations were present. In the event, no hopper bands were detected.
A further refinement of the migration simulation model began. The refinement used grid
data produced by the Bureau of Meteorology Limited Area Prediction Systems (LAPS).
The goals are to incorporate recent research results on locust orientation into the simulation
model and to provide more flexibility to trajectory simulation. The Intranet website within
DAFF hosting the graphical interface to Insect Monitoring Radar (IMR) data was
established, giving real time access to Bourke and Thargomindah IMR observation data.
Identification of Australian plague locusts from IMR echoes was attempted and migration
trajectories were constructed from the IMR detected locust parameters. One identified
plague locust migration at Bourke IMR was verified and confirmed by field survey in April
2007. APLC data collection and archiving were reprogrammed with Python script language
as automated procedures. The APLC archived data has been examined in order to migrate
to a central database in the future.
A User-Manual was produced for the operation of the PDA based field survey data
collection software, APLC-PDA Tools and GBM-Mobile.
Pesticide Development and Trials
One pesticide trial to further test the efficacy of fipronil as a discrete barrier was
undertaken in December 2006 during control operations at Tambo in Queensland.
The APLC did not receive any approaches from industry to evaluate new control agents in
2006-07. The apparent lack of new locust control agents available for evaluation and
possible development for operational control remains a concern. However, this issue is part
of a broader issue for Australian agriculture. Proposed developments to facilitate the use of
new agricultural chemicals through improved “Minor Use” measures by DAFF and the
APVMA are likely to improve access to new products in the future.
11

Control Operations and Pesticide Use
A summary of APLC locust control operations in 2006-07 is presented in Table 1. In
December 2006, a small infestation of locust hopper bands developed in the Tambo area of
central Queensland following heavy rainfall in November 2006. The APLC mounted a
short control campaign in December which substantially reduced the population. In terms
of pesticide used in the campaign, fipronil was used to treat approximately 61%, Green
Guard around 31% with fenitrothion comprising 8% of the total area (Table 2). The
relatively high use of Green Guard was due to the need to control infestations present on a
number of organic properties in the area. The Tambo campaign also provided an
opportunity for relatively new field staff to gain valuable experience in locust control.
Table 1. Control operations 2006-07
Control Base Type Period
Number
of targets
Area Treated
(km 2 )
Tambo, Queensland Band 14-19/12/2006 24 98.2
Total area 2006-07 98.2
Table 2. Area treated (km 2 ) by pesticide type 2006-07
Fenitrothion Fipronil Green Guard
7.9 km 2
59.6 km 2
30.7 km 2
(8 %) (61 %) (31 %)
Estimated control costs and benefits 2006-07
In 2006-07 the average cost of APLC control measures, inclusive of pesticide and aircraft
costs but excluding APLC staff costs, was estimated at approximately $9 per hectare. This
figure is for hopper band control only in 2006-07 as no swarm control was undertaken
during the year. This estimate is lower than the estimated cost ($11/hectare) of hopper band
control in the previous year despite the relatively high proportion of control undertaken
with Green Guard. The lower control cost per hectare for 2006-07 is attributed to several
factors including the fact that nymphal ages were more closely aligned - promoting a larger
proportion of nymphs in more discrete, well-defined band targets plus the relatively small
overall area infested and the efficiencies associated with an easily treatable population with
few operational constraints.
Pesticide supply and stocks
A summary of pesticide stock, including pesticide purchased, used and the carry-over stock
is shown in Table 3 (fenitrothion and fipronil) and Table 4 (Bio-pesticide). The APLC also
acted as a pesticide bank during 2006-07 by providing significant quantities of control
agents to South Australian and Western Australian authorities on a loan/replacement basis.
This arrangement continues to provide a mutually beneficial management of resources.
12

Table 3. Pesticide stock 2006-07
Fenitrothion
(tonnes)
Adonis 3
(litres)
On Hand 1 July 2006 40.95 15,000
Purchased 2006-2007 5.80 nil
Used 2006-2007 (1)
0.30 800
Inventory (As @ 30 June 2007) 46.55 14,200
Inventory Value (As @ 30 June 2007) $629,000 $253,000
Table 4. Bio-pesticide stock (1) (2) (3) 2006-07
On Hand 1 July 2006 104
Purchased 2006-2007 nil
Used 2006-2007 15
Inventory (As @ 30 June 2007) 89
Inventory Value (As @ 30 June 2007) $180,000
(1) For practical reasons Green Guard inventory is expressed as the number of 14L containers.
(2) Inventory quantity and value of the carrying agent for Green Guard (Summer Spray Oil) are not included.
(3) The shelf-life of Green Guard stored by the manufacturer [@ 4 o C] is guaranteed for 2 years but in the field [@ 25 o C]
is only guaranteed for approximately 6 months. (Stored inventory is turned-over and replaced when practicable.)
Environmental Management System
Progress was made by the APLC in meeting the objectives of its Environmental
Management System (EMS). A report of the progress made is provided at Annex 1:
Environmental Management System: Objectives and conformance.
Competency Based Training and Assessment
Two new field staff, Mr Sanchez and Mr Wilshire, successfully progressed through the
majority of the 2006/07 competency based training program. Due to a low locust
population training under the control campaign module was limited to one band control
campaign.
Two OIC’s, Mr Nolan and Mr Graham, completed their training as qualified trainers and
assessors under the competency based training and assessment program. Mr Coleman
commenced the qualified trainer and assessor program
One APLC senior officer successfully completed all components of Season 2 of the
competency program.
13

International Linkages
The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) invited the Director Mr
Laury McCulloch to present a paper to the 38 th session of the Desert Locust Control
Committee held in Rome in September 2006. The full travel costs of the Director’s
participation in the meeting were met by FAO.
The APLC funded a short visit by Professor Ralf Peveling, an eco-toxicologist with
extensive experience on the environmental impact of locust control from the University of
Basel, Switzerland, in September 2007 to collaborate with Dr Martin Steinbauer on
research into the impact of fipronil.
Mr Paul Story presented several scientific papers on environmental impact to the SEATAC
conference in Tanzania in October 2006.
Mr Peter Spurgin presented a paper and poster on the APLC’s experience in the operational
use of bio-pesticides at an FAO workshop in Dakar, Senegal in February 2007.
Dr Martin Steinbauer obtained a DAFF Development Award to visit South Africa in March
2007 to undertake a collaborative research with Drs Shirley Hanrahan and Frances Duncan
of the University of Witwatersrand on the ecology of brown locust (Locustana pardalina),
in particular the mechanisms used by eggs to survive prolonged periods of drought.
The APLC hosted a group of visiting Chinese officials from the National Animal
Husbandry Service of Ministry of Agriculture in March 2007. The delegation, led by the
Director Dr Xujian Yun and the Deputy Director Mr Hongtian Su of Grassland Division,
comprised three senior officials from the ministry and five senior staff from provincial
institutions involved with locust control in the northern and north-western grassland of
China.
In March/April and May/June 2007, FAO contracted Mr Peter Spurgin and Mr Heath
McRae to provide technical assistance in controlling an outbreak of Migratory locust in
East Timor. A successful aerial control campaign using the biopesticide Green Guard was
carried out.
Occupational Health & Safety
The DAFF OH&S Committee and Senior Executive endorsed the APLC fatigue
management guidelines in late 2006.
The review of APLC aerial safety, undertaken by Heli-logistics Pty Ltd, was endorsed by
APLC Commissioners at the 59 th meeting in November 2006. The APLC Director was
requested by Commissioners to undertake an analysis of the report and its
recommendations and report back to Commissioners. The analysis was undertaken and
circulated to APLC Commissioners out of session seeking endorsement that all the
recommendations related directly to aerial operations be actioned immediately and the
remaining recommendations progressed. This was agreed and work on progressing the
remaining recommendations is underway.
In December 2006, a single engine fixed wing aircraft chartered by the APLC for band
spotting in the Tambo area of Queensland was required to make an emergency landing
following an electrical malfunction. No injuries were sustained by the pilot or the APLC
14

observer on board (Mr Nolan) as a result of the emergency landing. Subsequently, a full
incident report was provided to the APLC and the DAFF OH&S adviser.
No accidents involving APLC vehicles occurred in 2006-07.
A new fumehood was purchased for the APLC laboratory to allow fat extractions from
locusts using organic solvents to be conducted by APLC staff for the first time ever. The
only fumehood available within the Kingston Technical Services centre building failed
inspection and repairs to it were considered too expensive, especially in light of the move
to a new building in January 2008.
Exposed sections of bench tops in the APLC laboratory were sealed following confirmation
that they contained asbestos-related materials.
Administration
APLC Commissioners’ meetings were held in November 2006 and May 2007. The October
2006 meeting discussed the outcomes of the aerial safety review commissioned by the
APLC, a supplementary economic study undertaken by the Australian Bureau of
Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE) and the APLC strategy and progress in
implementation of the recommendations made by the independent review in 2005 (Annex
2: Implementation of external review recommendations). The supplementary study on the
economics of locust control, commissioned by the APLC and undertaken by ABARE,
estimated an annual average benefit cost ratio for APLC operations of approximately 20:1.
An internal departmental (DAFF) audit of the APLC was undertaken in March 2007. The
audit report recommended a number of minor changes to APLC procedures including
record keeping and purchasing of pesticides. The recommended changes to existing APLC
procedures were implemented in June 2007.
Staffing
Following acceptance of the recommendations arising from the Marshall Consulting review
of APLC position classifications undertaken in 2005-06, action was undertaken in the first
half of 2006-07 to implement the recommendations. Mr Laury McCulloch was promoted to
the Science Stream at Band 3, Level 5. Mr Walter Spratt was promoted to the position of
Deputy Director within the Policy Technical Stream at Band 3, Level 8A. Messrs Peter
Spurgin, Ted Deveson and Paul Story were promoted to the Science Stream at Band 3,
Level 3.
Mr Glenn Wilshire (Narromine) and Mr Laurie Sanchez (Broken Hill) joined the APLC as
Field Officers in late October 2006. In June 2007, Mr Jason Ullrich (Broken Hill) and Mr
Lucas Scales (Narromine) joined the APLC as Field Officers replacing staff who had left in
late 2006.
Following the resignation in November 2006 of the only remaining staff member at
Longreach (Mr Renn Webb), the base was temporarily closed. It is planned to re-open the
Longreach base in late 2007, subject to staffing considerations.
15

Table 5. Staffing position at 30 June 2007 and days away from base 2006-07
Officer Position Period
Employed
Weekdays Sat, Sun &
public holidays
L. McCulloch Director Throughout 19 4 23
W. Spratt Deputy Director Throughout 35 10 45
E. Deveson Forecasting & Information Officer Throughout 21 5 26
P. Spurgin Control Officer Throughout 32 14 46
M. Steinbauer Entomologist Throughout 32 9 41
P. Story Environmental Officer Throughout 123 47 170
H. Wang GIS Manager Throughout 14 4 18
H. McRae OH&S/Training Officer Throughout 21 9 30
I. Wright Administration Officer Throughout 0 0 0
R. Graham OIC Broken Hill Throughout 48 10 58
J. Nolan OIC Narromine Throughout 77 23 100
A. Coleman Senior Field Officer Throughout 114 18 132
L. Sanchez Field Officer From 20/10/06 66 11 77
L. Scales Field Officer From 18/6/07 6 0 6
J. Ullrich Field Officer From 18/6/07 1 0 1
R. Webb Field Officer 1/7/06 - 24/11/07 28 8 36
G. Wilshire Field Officer From 20/10/06 77 23 100
A. Rodgers Field Officer 1/7/06 - 14/7/06 0 0 0
M. Hobbs Laboratory Technician 6/12/06 - 30/6/07 0 0 0
Finance
Total
Days
Total revenue in 2006-07 amounted to $4.04 million (Annex 3: Revenue 2006-07).
Expenses in 2006-07 amounted to $3.357million (Annex 4: Expenses 2006-07) resulting in
an operational surplus of $683,000. After adjustment (against the 2005-06 operating deficit
of $23,778), a net balance of $659,838 was carried over to the 2007-08 financial year as an
accumulated surplus (Annex 5: Accumulated Results).
16

Key Performance Indicators
The 2005 external review of the APLC suggested a number of Key Performance Indicators
(KPIs) against which the future performance of the APLC could be measured. These KPIs
have been adopted, with some modifications to provide additional semi-quantitative
measures, for reporting on an annual basis. Details of the KPIs and performance measures
together with an assessment of the APLC’s performance in 2006-07 are summarised in
Table 6.
Table 6. Performance against KPIs
Key Performance Indicator
(KPI)
KPI Measures Assessment/comments (2006-07)
Effectiveness of monitoring,
prediction and control of
locust populations
Availability and effectiveness
of control agents
Environmental impact of
control
Significant populations
detected at early-mid instar
stage
Accuracy of forecasts of
population scale, timing and
location
Majority of control measures
against nymphal stage
No adverse aerial spraying
incidents
Availability of existing agents
Replacement agents identified
and application
rates/techniques verified
No reported/observed
significant adverse impacts
Trade risks minimised No adverse trade (residue)
impacts
Cooperation with
environmental, OH&S and
other relevant agencies in
developing and implementing
plans for control programs
Ensuring OH&S of APLC
staff, including aerial safety
Improved management
practices developed through a
targeted research program
Plans developed and agreed
and reviewed on regular basis.
No significant OH&S
incidents
Research findings
incorporated into APLC
control strategy and operations
All plague locust populations at Tambo and
in south-west Queensland were detected at
an early stage.
In 2006-07 all APLC control was against
nymphal stages.
No adverse aerial spraying incidents
reported.
No major issue with availability of existing
control agents.
No alternative control agents identified and
no approaches from industry for APLC to
trial new agents.
APLC monitoring and control mechanisms
have not detected any issues and none have
been reported.
No adverse trade (residue) impact or issues
reported.
At the 60 th APLC meeting Commissioners
decided that the APLC would provide a
document detailing its control policy and
procedures for endorsement by member
States prior to APLC control operations
commencing.
One aerial safety incident occurred during
aerial band spotting at Tambo Two new
field staff attended helicopter wire
awareness training.
Use of fipronil barriers shows promise for
hopper band control. Possible changes to
Metarhizium application method and rate to
improve efficacy need further research
APLC staff participation in APLC staff invited to APLC staff attended international
17

Key Performance Indicator
(KPI)
national and international
programs/scientific
conferences
Development of effective
strategic, operational and
communication plans
Training of member state
staff
Research
KPI Measures Assessment/comments (2006-07)
participate in such programs
and conferences
Plans developed, endorsed and
implemented
Plans published
APLC training course
developed and delivered
Research Review Committee
Core of trained member state
staff available
conferences.
Director APLC attended the Desert Locust
Control Committee in September 2006.
Two APLC staff undertook locust
assessment and control missions for the
Food and Agriculture Organization in East
Timor
Strategic plan (2006-2011) published.
Communication Plan to be finalised in
2007-08.
Operational Plan for 2006-07 endorsed by
Commissioners
APLC locust training course developed and
delivered in September 2006.
Policy paper on support by state staff under
development.
The Committee, comprising Dr Malcolm Campbell, Professor Myron Zalucki and Mr Phil
Sinclair, met to review APLC research on 4 and 5 October 2006. The Committee noted that
the APLC Research Strategy 2006-10 had beneficially impacted on the projects being
undertaken but advocated further rationalisation of research activities to align with the
strategy. In addition, the Committee indicated that the current strategy was very ambitious
and that consideration should be given whenever appropriate to outsource specific projects.
Summaries of Research in Progress
Impact of fipronil on non-target invertebrates (Martin Steinbauer, Maria Hobbs, Ralf
Peveling & Peter Spurgin)
Environmental-impact research on the affects of fipronil on termites continued in 2006-07
but was greatly intensified and extended, in part to capitalise on the visit of Professor
Peveling. Experimental-design flaws detailed in the Annual Activity Report 2005-06 were
addressed through erection of another six, fenced experimental enclosures at newly
selected locations near Tambo. Specifically, the experimental enclosures near Tambo now
comprise three pairs of enclosures on black vertosol soils and three pairs of enclosures on
red kandosol soils. In addition to needing to correct a black vertosol - red kandosol pairing
of two enclosures (i.e. “Gravel Pit” & ‘Manning’ whose pairing was the result of an
oversight in site selection in early 2004), results from 2005-06 indicated that termite
activity was considerably higher on the red kandosol soil at Manning. To provide
continuity with some results obtained by Professor Peveling in work he conducted in
Madagascar, pitfall trapping for ants and other invertebrates (associated with sites on both
soil types) and measurement of the recovery of damage to termite mounds (red kandosol
18

sites only) supplemented the use of wood and cardboard baits to measure termite activity
(i.e. the experimental approach used in 2005-06).
The use of “trench billets” (terminology used by the Termite Group at CSIRO Entomology)
of Eucalyptus regnans to measure the activity of subterranean termites was continued in
2006-07 because the technique proved so effective for the purpose in 2005-06 (Figure 4).
Unlike results for 2005-06, wood loss from trench billets was generally, consistently
greater in experimental enclosures that were not sprayed with fipronil than in enclosures
that had been sprayed with fipronil two to three days earlier. This suggests that termite
populations or activity was likely to have been adversely affected by spraying sites with
fipronil. Results in 2005-06 were somewhat equivocal, possibly because the sites had been
sprayed with fipronil some 9 months before the billets were laid. Hence, termite
populations or activity may have recovered to a greater extent than might likely occur
immediately following spraying. As found in 2005-06, wood loss due to termite feeding
was noticeably greater in most of the enclosures on red kandosol (the exception being the
pair of enclosures at ‘Manning’ unsprayed and Sandy Creek sprayed) than in enclosures on
black vertosol.
Wood loss after 5 months (g)
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Gravel Pit UNspr
Gravel Pit spr
Black vertosol sites
Ivanhoe UNspr
Ivanhoe spr
Amisfield UNspr
Amisfield spr
Wood loss after 5 months (g)
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Manning UNspr
Sandy Ck spr
Red kandosol sites
Hooray Ck UNspr
Hooray Ck spr
Katamboora UNspr
Katamboora spr
Figure 4. Wood loss due to termite feeding in paired unsprayed (UNspr) and fipronil
sprayed (spr) sites on two soil types near Tambo.
Bars are means ± SE; results of statistical analyses not presented. Note: different scales on y-axes.
The activity of grass-feeding termites was hoped to be assayed in 2005-06 using onion bags
filled with known amounts of wheat stubble. However, this methodology proved too
unreliable because significant quantities of stubble were lost in transit between Canberra
and Tambo and/or because the termites themselves introduced large quantities of soil to the
stubble when make their feeding galleries. Consequently, in 2006-07, a decision was taken
to trial a new type of bait, namely cardboard. Cardboard squares of 3BC grade were
purchased from ABBE Corrugated Pty. Ltd. and were housed in nylon “craypot bait-bags”
to facilitate their return intact to Canberra after being exposed to termites. The cardboard
baits required significantly more post-exposure to termites cleaning before the weight lost
by them could be determined. In addition, trends in weight loss after 5 months were less
apparent than for the trench billets. Of the baits from black vertosol sites, only those from
the enclosures at ‘Amisfield’ exhibited weight losses in accordance with expectation, i.e.
greater weight loss of baits from the unsprayed enclosure than of baits from the sprayed
enclosure (Figure 5). Again, weight loss on black vertosol sites was generally less than
weight loss of baits on red kandosol sites. All baits from enclosures on red kandosol that
19

were sprayed with fipronil were likely to have lost less weight than those from unsprayed
enclosures. Because of the labour-intensive processing cardboard baits require, they will
not used in the continuance of this study in 2007-08.
Cardboard loss after 5 months (g)
8
6
4
2
0
Gravel Pit UNspr
Gravel Pit spr
Black vertosol sites
Ivanhoe UNspr
Ivanhoe spr
Amisfield UNspr
Amisfield spr
Cardboard loss after 5 months (g)
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Manning UNspr
Sandy Ck spr
Red kandosol sites
Hooray Ck UNspr
Hooray Ck spr
Katamboora UNspr
Katamboora spr
Figure 5. Cardboard loss due to termite feeding in paired unsprayed (UNspr) and
fipronil sprayed (spr) sites on two soil types near Tambo.
Bars are means ± SE; results of statistical analyses not presented. Note: different scales on y-axes.
Figure 6. Acute toxicity of fipronil to ant assemblages at 12 sites (6 treated and 6
untreated) near Tambo in 2006.
Treated areas were sprayed with fipronil at ≈ 1 g per hectare. Independent samples t-test probability = 0.70. Explanation of index: The
change in encounter density is the logarithm of the quotient of total pre-spray encounters divided by the total post-spray encounters (see
Peveling et al., 1999). Image taken from Peveling (2006)
Pitfall trapping for ants and other invertebrates was conducted once before the spraying
occurred (September 2006) and three-times after the spraying had occurred (September,
October/November and December 2006); each time, 10 pitfall traps were left in situ in each
enclosure for 24 hours before being returned to the laboratory for sorting. The small
catches of non-ant taxa has necessitated that focus be given over entirely to the
enumeration and identification of ants from unsprayed and sprayed enclosures. The poor
abundance and diversity of non-ant taxa may have been associated with drought conditions
at the times of trapping. A preliminary analysis of the occurrence of different taxa of ants
trapped during the pre-spray and first post-spray trapping periods suggests that fipronil has
not adversely affected communities of these species (Figure 6). However, the complete
dataset had not been thoroughly analysed at the time this summary was written. Therefore
20

judgement concerning the impact to ants of exposure to fipronil should be reserved until all
the data has been considered – especially in light of evidence concerning the impact of
fipronil on meat ants (see next).
During fieldwork with Professor Peveling in September 2006, 10 termite mounds (species
tentatively identified as Drepanotermes rubriceps) were located at each of the six red
kandosol experimental sites, their UTM coordinates taken by GPS and the
presence/absence of cohabiting meat ants (Iridomyrmex species) recorded (N.B. the
occurrence of meat ant colonies in termite mounds prior to spraying did not differ
according to whether the mound was in a would-be treated site or in an untreated site, see
Test 1 in Table 7 below). The surface of each mound then had a 10 x 10 cm entrance hole
chiselled into it which extended into the mound for 10 to 15 cm (Figure 7). Following
completion of the hole, evidence of termite activity within the mound was noted and
samples of workers and soldiers taken, the latter essential for species identification. One to
two days thereafter the mounds were revisited to quickly check for evidence of repair.
Figure 7. Artificial damage to termite mound at “Sandy Creek” experimental site
near Tambo, September 2006.
Image taken from Peveling (2006)
During fieldwork in February 2007, Dr Steinbauer attempted to locate all 60 mounds
(identified previously) and observe the state of the hole, that of the mound generally and
record the presence/absence of the meat ant colony if one was recorded in the mound
during September 2006. At this time, only 52 of the original mounds were relocated.
Coincidentally, seven of the mounds that could not be relocated were in fipronil treated
sites and only one was in an untreated site. No meat ant colonies were re-located in mounds
in fipronil treated sites in February 2006 whereas the number of colonies found in untreated
mounds had increased slightly at this time. The probability of such a difference occurring
by chance is extremely small (see Test 2 in Table 7). Comparing the incidence of mound
repair from all sites, including ‘Manning’ (untreated) and “Sandy Creek” (treated) where
no repair activity was observed, there was no statistically significant difference in the rate
of repair between untreated (34% repair) and treated (13% repair) sites (Test 4 in Table 7).
This finding could have been statistically significant (albeit at the margin of accepted
statistical significance, i.e. 0.05) had just one of the missing mounds from any of the treated
sites been found to have not been repaired. If data for the repair of mounds in the
21

“Katamboora” and “Hooray Creek” sites only is considered, the rate of repair in untreated
sites (53%) is significantly greater than the rate of repair in the treated sites (19%; Test 6 in
Table 7). This small study has already shown that there is sound evidence that both
Iridomyrmex and Drepanotermes were adversely affected by their exposure to fipronil in
September 2007. Further work is planned for the summer of 2007-08 to assess the viability
of both the meat ant and termite colonies in the 60 original mounds.
Table 7. Statistical tests pertaining to presence/absence of meat ants and repair of
termite mounds in fipronil treated and untreated sites near Tambo.
Test Endpoint Untreated Treated
1 Presence (%) before treatment (September
2006)
Iridomyrmex (ant)
Statistics (χ 2
, d.f. = 1)
40 20 2.86, P = 0.091
2 Presence (%) after treatment (February 2007) 45 0 13.70, P < 0.001
(3) Presence (%) before treatment (September
2006)
4 Repair (%) of mounds after treatment
(February 2007)
(5) Presence (%) before treatment (September
2006)
6 Repair (%) of mounds after treatment
(February 2007)
Table taken from Peveling (2007)
Drepanotermes (harvester termite)
All experimental sites included
Only sites from Katamboora and Hooray Creek included
100 100 No test necessary
34 13 3.14, P = 0.076
100 100 No test necessary
53 19 4.27, P = 0.039
Soil moisture and the survival and development of locust eggs (Martin Steinbauer,
Andrew Coleman & Haikou Wang)
The eggs of the Australian plague locust are laid into soil with the pod’s foam (secreted by
the female) forming a bridge between the eggs themselves and the soil. Limited access to
soil moisture can cause young embryos to enter quiescence which will only be terminated
when sufficient moisture is again available. Although quiescence is a mechanism to resist
drought, embryos cannot remain viable indefinitely when soil moisture remains in deficit.
The survival of eggs under differing availabilities of soil moisture has not been studied
previously but is vital to understanding rates of immature mortality in this insect. For
example, only 38% of eggs hatched when reared on vermiculite at 10% moisture content
weight/weight (MJS, unpubl. data, see below).
The role of soil type in determining the availability of moisture to locust eggs therefore
needs better understanding if variations in regional rainfall are to be related to population
growth. Equipment to construct two soil moisture stations was bought in September 2006
to begin to address this gap in our knowledge. These stations have been recording the
responses of two soil types to rainfall for the previous 12 months and have already
increased awareness of the challenges the eggs of Chortoicetes terminifera face when laid
into one or other of them. For example, eggs laid into free-draining soils can probably
22

access moisture from even the smallest falls of rain but will also quickly experience water
deficit in the absence of follow-up falls whereas eggs in high clay content soils will
experience longer delays before moisture is accessible after a rain event, soil moisture will
eventually remain available for much longer (Figure 8). The soil at the Tambo site is a red
kandosol (bulk density 1.58 g cm -3 ) while that at ‘Nooyeah Downs’ (near Thargomindah) is
a grey vertosol (bulk density 1.32 g cm -3 ). Notice that water percolates into the Tambo soil
quickly after rain but also evaporates quickly. By contrast, the high clay content of the soil
at ‘Nooyeah Downs’ means that water infiltrates the profile very slowly and is also lost
very slowly.
Water Content (%)
Water Content (%)
4 6 8 10 12
20 40 60 80
7.112 mm
Tambo
21/01/07 31/01/07 10/02/07 20/02/07
25.65 mm
Nooyeah Downs
21/01/07 31/01/07 10/02/07 20/02/07
Figure 8. Water contents of two soil types at 10 cm depth following interception of
rain.
The descending bars indicate timing of individual rainfall events, the volume of the largest fall of rain is
given in the figure
The eggs of Australian plague locust are unable to imbibe moisture against an external
osmotic pressure in excess of -9 to -10 atmospheres (or -900 to -1,000 kPa; Wardhaugh,
1973). Hence, if soil moisture is either too low or the organic fraction of the soil holds the
water too tightly, eggs will not be able to extract the moisture they need to develop and will
eventually die. Using a newly purchased WP4 Dewpoint Potential Meter, the suction
required to remove moisture from a vermiculite substrate has been measured relative to the
survival of eggs (Figure 9). Preliminary findings appear in general agreement with work
by Wardhaugh. That is, egg survival is high (e.g. approximately 60% or greater) when the
23

suction required to extract moisture from vermiculite is less than 20 kPa (e.g. vermiculite at
20% moisture content weight/weight). However, egg survival falls below 50% when the
suction required to extract moisture from the vermiculite is greater than about 1 MPa (or
1,000 kPa). This occurs on vermiculite at 10% moisture content weight/weight. Similar
relationships as those presented in Figure 9 will be developed for a range of soil types that
occur throughout the region of endemism of Australian plague locust.
Survival of C. terminifera eggs (%)
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
-20.0 kPa
-1.7 MPa
-3.9 MPa
-138.8 MPa
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Moisture content weight/weight of grade 1 vermiculite (%)
Figure 9. Survival of Australian plague locust eggs versus moisture content and
suction.
Suctions necessary to extract water from vermiculite at 0%, 5%, 10% & 20% moisture contents given in
figure
Body size and fat content of locusts in relation to habitat condition (Martin
Steinbauer, Maria Hobbs & Haikou Wang)
The size and condition of animals is influenced by the quality of the resources in the
habitats in which they develop. This in turn can influence the capacity of individuals to
disperse from natal habitats and influence whether they and their offspring will
successfully colonise new habitats. Using adult spur-throated and Australian plague locust
specimens caught in the APLC’s light trap at Julia Creek (operated by Linda & Tim
Vollmer) during locust season 2005 to 2006, various morphological traits (including
tegmen length, femur length and head width), reproductive status and abdominal fat
contents have been measured in the laboratory to track temporal variations in the size and
condition of individuals. The technique of dissolving fat from the over-dried abdomens of
locusts using petroleum ether was first trialled using adult spur-throated locusts. The
technique that was improvised from published sources proved extremely effective (Figure
10). This is the first time that the fat content of either species of locust has been
quantitatively assessed and has revealed that early in the season (early September to early
October) spur-throated locust females have modest but highly variable abdominal fat
contents (Figure 10.1). This could suggest that there was considerable variation in the
extent to which the fat reserves of individual locusts were or were not utilised over their
winter dormancy. From late October until the disappearance of the overwintering parent
generation (around early March), fat contents were comparatively low and had become
much less variable. This period corresponded to the enlargement of eggs within the
24

abdomens of all the females dissected (Figure 10.2). The offspring of the parent generation
had generally higher abdominal fat contents, presumably in readiness for their dry-season
dormancy (see means in Figure 10.1 for day 455, i.e. 31 March 2006, and onwards).
abdominal fat content (% of dry weight)
80
75
70
65
60
55
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
280 320 360 400 440 480 520
calendar day (day 254 was 11 September 2005)
1
length of largest egg (mm)
6.0
5.5
5.0
4.5
4.0
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
280 320 360 400 440 480 520
calendar day (day 297 was 24 October 2005)
Figure 10. Abdominal fat content and egg development of spur-throated locusts
caught in the APLC’s light trap at Julia Creek.
Bars are means ± SE; no results of statistical analyses presented
Figure 11. Greenness of 500 square kilometre region centred on Julia Creek on 22
October 2005 (left) and 20 May 2006 (right).
The indicator of habitat quality that will be related to the condition of the locusts will be the
Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) which is obtained by satellite remotesensing
(Figure 11). NDVI imagery shows where vegetation is green and can, over the
passage of a locust season, reveal how habitats have changed in their suitability under the
influences of drought or rain. NDVI values for 25 areas (each measuring 25 x 25 square
kilometres and equally distributed across a 500 square km area centred on Julia Creek) for
period October 2005 to June 2006 have been calculated by Haikou Wang. Dates of fledging
and hatching (estimated using species-specific DYMEX models) and natal source habitats
(inferred from back trajectories estimated using historic wind trajectories) will be used to
relate locust body sizes and fat contents to NDVI means for the corresponding time
2
25

periods. By quantifying the relationships between locust development and habitat
condition, advice concerning population growth and survival that is given to interested
third-parties can have a sound empirical foundation.
Use of fipronil to control infestations of Australian plague locust nymphs (Peter
Spurgin and Laury McCulloch)
The results of three trials to investigate the potential of Discrete Strip Spraying (DSS) were
submitted to Crop Protection for publication (May 2007). This novel aerial application
technique uses widely spaced spray runs (200 – 300 m interval) made parallel to the
prevailing wind, resulting in a striped spray pattern across treated blocks with alternating
strips of vegetation dosed with pesticide and untreated vegetation. The treated strips are
approximately 75 to 100 m wide when a 10 m spraying height is used. Bands of locust
nymphs moving through these pesticide strips (referred to as barriers) come into contact
with the treated vegetation or feed on it and die. Further trials to determine optimum
spacing of fipronil barriers are planned when suitable populations of APL nymphs become
available.
Use of wide interval application technique with fipronil for grasshopper control in
South Australia (Peter Spurgin)
Following discussions with the APLC and provision of some initial technical assistance,
Primary Industries South Australia used this technique effectively as part of a program to
control an outbreak of small plague grasshopper, Austroicetes cruciata, in the Hawker-
Orroroo area during September and October 2006. A total area of 174,525 ha was treated
by air (fenitrothion – 78,522 ha, 138 targets and fipronil, [Adonis 3UL] – 96,003 ha, 99
targets). The fipronil was applied to larger blocks in rangeland and grazing areas infested
with nymphs using a 300 m interval between spray runs while the fenitrothion was applied
to cereal crops and adjacent areas using a conventional blanket treatment method.
Use of the wide interval technique allowed the larger areas to be treated rapidly with no
loss of overall effectiveness and with a reduction in operational costs and quantity of
pesticide used. This campaign illustrates how practical pesticide application methods
developed by the APLC can be successfully transferred to State organisations and adapted
to assist with local situations.
Efficacy of fipronil using wide spacing track intervals for hopper control (Peter
Spurgin)
Control in the Tambo area during December 2006 (APL nymphs), provided an opportunity
for a field evaluation of the DSS application technique with fipronil under operational
conditions in central Queensland. Bands of mid to late instar APL nymphs within a 688 ha
rangeland block (25% ground cover, predominately Mitchell grass, Astrebla sp.) were
treated with Adonis 3 UL (fipronil formulation of 3 g. a.i./L) using a 200 m interval
between spray (alternate spray runs were made into wind and then down wind). Two 200 m
bands with densities of approximately 2,000 nymphs/m 2 were monitored pre and post
treatment for distance moved daily and mortality. Prior to spraying, the mid to late instar
nymphs in these bands were marching 200 to 327 m/day. Three days after treatment these
bands had moved a further 150 m with total control of nymphs at this point. Neither of the
bands were directly oversprayed during treatment suggesting that uptake of fipronil by
nymphs occurred mainly by indirect means through contact with or ingestion of treated
vegetation. By mapping the path followed by the bands in relation to the fipronil strips it
was determined that each band passed through at least one treated strip with some nymphs
reaching a second. This result combined with the relatively short time to death and the
26

effective residual life of fipronil (up to 10 days under Australian conditions) suggests that
the 200 m interval between spray runs is too short and could be extended to 300 to 500 m
(and possibly further under some sparse vegetation situations) with similar efficacy.
Analysis of the 2003-2005 locust plague in eastern Australia (Ted Deveson and Laury
McCulloch)
A major outbreak of the Australian plague locust Chortoicetes terminifera (Walker)
developed in eastern Australia in 2003-2005 following an extended period of low locust
activity. An analysis of the locust situation between September 2003 and March 2004
indicates that the outbreak developed from a gradual population increase in autumn and
spring 2003, followed by widespread successful breeding in late January 2004 across
western Queensland, and the Central West and Northwest Plains of New South Wales. This
crucial breeding event was largely synchronous across a 1200 x 200 km swath which
received flood rains during mid-January. Fledging of the subsequent band generation
produced swarms during March which, in New South Wales, migrated into the Riverina,
the Far West and all NSW RLPB areas west of the Great Dividing Range. These adults laid
eggs in April and May 2004, which produced a widespread band infestation the following
spring.
All available information, including distribution and lifestage data from survey and reports,
control records, light trap, wind trajectories, rainfall and satellite NDVI images were used
to re-examine the conclusions about breeding and migration made during those seasons,
and to eliminate some development scenarios where data do not support them. Migrations
appear to have occurred not only in autumn 2004, but also in late spring and summer 2003-
2004, in redistributing adult populations prior to breeding events. However, there were few
opportunities for migration from south west Queensland into NSW. A large, intergenerational
population increase is indicated between January and March 2004, and again
from autumn to spring 2004 in NSW.
External research collaboration
Ongoing collaborative research between the Australian Plague Locust Commission
(APLC), the University of Wollongong (UoW), Texas Tech University (TTU) and the
Australian National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology (EnTox) continued
throughout the 2006-2007 period. This research has been primarily funded through the
Australian Research Council’s (ARC) Linkage Program and focused on the development of
novel passive sampling techniques for pesticides, the development and collation of
bioassays to assess current and potential pesticides and the sublethal effects of fenitrothion
and fipronil on Australian native vertebrate fauna.
The APLC’s long-standing and beneficial association with Dr Alistair Drake (School of
Physical, Environmental and Mathematical Sciences, UNSW@ADFA), through an ARC
Linkage Projects funded collaborative project, continued in 2006 to 2007. The appointment
of Mr Haikou Wang to the APLC has provided in-house expertise in the analysis and
interpretation of Insect Monitoring Radar (IMR) data which was previously only available
from Dr Drake. Soon after his appointment, Mr Wang provided APLC operations staff with
real-time access to IMR data from the Bourke and Thargomindah radars via the creation of
an internet link to the data recorded by the radars the previous night. Coincident with the
collection and analysis of IMR data, Dr Steinbauer continued to catch, weigh and have
identified to species, moths likely to have been among the targets tracked by the IMRs.
This work is being undertaken so that interpretation of the most probable species identities
of a night’s radar data can continue to be refined. Moth identifications have been provided
27

y Mr Ted Edwards of the Australian National Insect Collection (ANIC) at CSIRO
Entomology.
As already mentioned, Dr Steinbauer and Professor Ralf Peveling (University of Basel,
Switzerland) worked together for a month in September 2006 on the impact of fipronil on
subterranean termites and epigeal invertebrates, in particular ants. During this period,
fieldwork was conducted at experimental sites near Tambo, Queensland, and materials then
returned to Canberra for sorting and analysis. In his Visiting Scientist’s report, Professor
Peveling spoke very favourably of the experimental work he saw being conducted by Dr
Steinbauer to assess the impact of fipronil on non-target invertebrates. Ant specimens from
the pitfall trapping conducted in the Tambo experimental sites were identified to species by
Dr Steve Shattuck of the ANIC, CSIRO Entomology.
Dr Steinbauer continued collaborating with Dr Mamoru Matsuki (Murdoch University, C/-
Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia) on a thorough statistical analysis
of the APLC’s locust survey data back to 1987 with a view to determining whether it
provides support for the long-held but untested association between unusually high rainfall
events and large populations of Australian plague locust hoppers. A particular focus of the
study is to determine whether the locust survey data reveals the length of lag-phases
between rainfall events and the occurrence of incipient populations.
Australian Research Council SPIRT Project C0010657. Organophosphate pesticides
and locust control: sublethal effects on vertebrates. Partner Organisations: University
of Wollongong, Texas Tech University.
Ongoing collaborative research between the Australian Plague Locust Commission
(APLC), the University of Wollongong (UoW) and Texas Tech University (TTU)
continued throughout 2006-2007. This research project, originally funded through the
Australian Research Council’s (ARC) Linkage Program and focusing on quantifying the
sublethal effects of fenitrothion on Australian native vertebrates, has now concluded. A
final report will be given in next year’s annual activity statement
Small mammal studies
The absence of information on the effects of pesticides on Australian native vertebrates
inhibits the ability of risk assessments in Australia, associated with the registration of
pesticides, to accurately reflect the ecosystems and toxicological endpoints they are
designed to protect. The question of whether or not endemically old and unique Australian
vertebrate fauna displays an increased sensitivity to pesticides used for locust control, led
to a small study to determine an estimate of the acute oral toxicity (expressed as an
estimate of the LD50 or eLD50) of the organophosphorus pesticide, fenitrothion, for the fattailed
dunnart Sminthopsis crassicaudata and the stripe-faced dunnart, S. macroura (Gould
1845). S. crassicaudata and S. macroura are highly insectivorous, have the ability to gorge
feed and have distributions and habitat preferences that overlap closely with the APLC’s
area of operations. They are therefore considered suitable experimental models for
investigating the sublethal effects of pesticides on the Dasyuridae Using the Up-And-Down
method for determining acute oral toxicity, S. crassicaudata and S. macroura were found
to have eLD50s of 129 mg/kg (95% CI = 74.18-159) and 97 mg/kg (95% CI = 88.32-
120.00) respectively. These values are some 10-14 times lower than the reported LD50
value for a similar sized eutherian mammal, Mus musculus (L. 1758). This finding of
increased sensitivity of Australian marsupials to pesticides places additional importance on
adequately evaluating the risks of pesticides to Australian fauna.
28

Evaluation of the effects of fenitrothion on aerobic metabolism during cold exposure and
exercise performance (run duration and oxygen consumption) in these two species before
and after the ingestion of pesticide has continued during 2006-07. Significant declines have
been measured in running endurance for up to five days after dosing, but peak metabolic
rate (PMR) and cost of transport were unaffected. PMR and cumulative oxygen
consumption during a thermogenic challenge (one hour exposure to conditions equivalent
to –20 °C) did not change following fenitrothion ingestion, with PMR averaging 10 times
BMR. Although this research has not yet concluded, it appears that fenitrothion-induced
exercise fatigue is not due to limitations in oxygen or substrate delivery to muscle or in
their uptake per se, but more likely relates to decreased ability to sustain high-frequency
neuromuscular function.
Avian studies
Previous field studies (Fildes et al. 2006) have established that birds attending locust
outbreaks in Australia are exposed to fenitrothion during these spray operations and that
levels of the enzymatic biomarker, acetylcholinesterase are suppressed at least to levels
where sublethal effects would be expected. In an attempt to examine these sublethal effects,
we measured aerobic metabolism (oxygen consumption) during exercise performance
(flying) and cold exposure (conditions equivalent to – 20 °C for 1 hr) in house sparrows
(Passer domesticus), zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) and king quail (Coturnix
chinensis) before and after a single dose of fenitrothion (control birds received only corn
oil). House sparrows and king quail were dosed at 30 mg/kg and zebra finches at 3 mg/kg,
then exposed to cold 1, 2, 6 and 14 days post-dose. Oxygen consumption did not change
following fenitrothion ingestion at any time in any species during cold exposure.
House sparrows were dosed with fenitrothion at 100 mg/kg (high dose), 60 mg/kg (medium
dose) or 30 mg/kg (low dose). The high dose group experienced a 68% reduction in mean
peak metabolic rate (PMR) in fenitrothion-treated birds, two days post-dose, and was 30%
lower than pre-dose rates 14 days post-dose. This effect decreased with decreasing dose.
Two days post-dose, the mean PMR of treated birds was 16% lower in the medium group,
and 10% lower in the low dose group. Zebra finches received 3 mg/kg and king quail 30
mg/kg fenitrothion. In zebra finches mean PMR was 25% lower three days postfenitrothion
than before exposure and was 23% lower in king quail two days post-dose. In
control birds PMR did not significantly change in any species at any time. We therefore
conclude that PMR is a sensitive performance indicator at sublethal doses, and that flight
performance can be affected by sublethal fenitrothion exposure for at least 2-3 days.
Australian Research Council Linkage Project LP0455803. Evaluating the effects of
fipronil a moderately persistent new generation pesticide on Australian native
vertebrates. Partner Organisations: University of Wollongong, Texas Tech University.
This research project increases the level of scrutiny applied to fipronil in relation to its
potential effects on non-target native vertebrate fauna. Because fipronil remains persistent
in the environment for a longer period than the organophosphorous compound,
fenitrothion, this research seeks to examine the potential for its bioaccumulation,
particularly in female vertebrates, with maternal transfer to milk or egg yolk having
potential to affect the development of young.
Two pilot studies were initially carried out in 2004-2005 examining the impact of fipronil
on embryonic and offspring development as a direct result of maternal transfer. In 2006 we
extended the first study, in which eggs were treated with higher doses of fipronil.
Behavioural and developmental abnormalities were observed in the highest dose group.
29

These chicks also demonstrated reduced feeding behaviour, reflected by reduced body
mass over the 48 hour period post hatch. In addition, breeding female zebra finch pairs
were dosed with higher levels of fipronil to determine behavioural and developmental
impacts on offspring in relation to dose. High fipronil and fipronil-sulfone residues were
detected in eggs laid by females in all dosed groups; however these were undetectable in
eggs laid 13 days after treatment. The level of sulfone detected was consistently higher than
that of the parent fipronil compound. Of all the eggs laid in the treatment groups, only one
chick hatched (of 7 eggs; 14% hatch rate) and this was from the lowest dose group. This is
in comparison to the 100% hatch rate of control group eggs. At 10 days old, this chick was
severely underdeveloped in comparison to control chicks.
Available avian fipronil toxicity data demonstrate that there is high species-specific
variability in sensitivity across the few species studied; this variability makes it extremely
difficult to predict the toxicity of fipronil on unstudied species at risk of exposure in the
wild. Three previously unstudied avian species have been examined so far in this study;
two passeriformes: zebra finch and house finch, and also king quail, a galliforme. We used
technical grade fipronil to test toxicity in these species using the Up-and-Down protocol,
adopted by the USEPA in 2001 to minimize the number of animals required to estimate
acute oral toxicity to a chemical. Bobwhite Quail, a galliforme, was also studied as part of
collaborative research with Dr. Michael Hooper at Texas Tech University. In addition to
being the standard USEPA avian test species for toxicity, it is also the most fipronil
sensitive species. A study on fipronil sensitivity in banded lapwing as a surrogate for the
endangered plains-wanderer is also currently in progress.
Our results so far demonstrate that fipronil is moderately toxic to the two passeriformes
tested and highly toxic to king quail. Clear differences were observed in respect to the
onset and duration of signs of fipronil intoxication between the two orders; signs of
intoxication were identical for both passeriformes and were observed as soon as 10 minutes
after dosing. Of those that survived, complete remission occurred 24 hours after treatment.
For the galliformes definite signs were not observed in either species until at least 2 days
after treatment. Birds did not eat or drink for at least the first 2 days after treatment.
Mortality occurred as late as 4 days post treatment, some individuals had to be euthanised 3
days post treatment due to significant loss in body mass.
The literature indicates high residual levels of the fipronil-sulfone metabolite detected in
exposed animals. Considering that the sulfone is equally or potentially more toxic than
fipronil to vertebrates, its metabolism from the parent compound may occur to a higher
degree in some avian species than in others. It is possible that differences in the rate of
conversion of fipronil to sulfone may account for the varied sensitivity to fipronil among
species. To evaluate this hypothesis, three tissues were targeted for studying accumulated
residue levels in exposed animals; liver, adipose tissue, and brain. Fipronil is highly
lipophilic and is known to bioaccumulate in liver and fat, whereas the brain is important to
sample as GABA receptors within it are the main functional target for fipronil. Initial
analysis of our results indicates there is a difference between fipronil and fipronil-sulfone
residue bioaccumulation between the 2 avian orders. The detectable levels of sulfone
residue in tissue appear to increase in the bobwhite quail over the first 3 days post
treatment. This is in contrast to results indicating that sulfone residue levels in passeriform
tissue drop significantly over the 3 days post treatment. This assessment is still in progress.
30

Australian Research Council Linkage Project LP0453498. Developing a new approach
to aquatic pollutant assessment combining time integrated sampling with toxicity testing.
Partner Organisation: National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology; and
Australian Research Council Linkage Project LP0560619. Development of a novel air
pollution monitoring strategy: combining passive sampling with toxicity testing. Partner
Organisation: National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology.
Monitoring exposure to air and water pollutants is complex and usually involves the
chemical analysis of grab samples (i.e. collecting an appropriate and replicated volume of
air or water in a relatively short time) for target compounds. To evaluate risk, these
environmental concentrations are then related to existing guidelines. Unfortunately this
approach to residue sampling, within the context of locust control, has some key limitations
including:
� grab samples represent only a moment in time and replication is expensive;
� additive or synergistic effects cannot effectively be considered (except for
compounds that are from a given specific compound group where toxicity
equivalencies are used to sum up the toxicity of individual chemicals;
� chemicals may have a range of toxic effects and therefore can educe a variety of
ecotoxicological endpoints;
� APLC resources during locust control campaigns are insufficient to enable the
collection of grab samples; and finally
� the APLC does not have the laboratory capability to enable the analysis of air or
water samples for single or multiple toxicological endpoints.
The use of high density polyethylene is proving useful in the development of water
samplers for monitoring chemicals with medium lipophilic characteristics which include a
range of past and presently used insecticides such as fipronil and fenitrothion. Both low
(LDPE) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) sheets have been evaluated as passive
samplers (PSDs) for use in aquatic sampling and the HDPE has been calibrated for
fenitrothion and fipronil due to its higher partition coefficient. This is now available for use
by the APLC in monitoring its buffer zones around water ways.
The development of air passive samplers however has proven to be more problematic and
is ongoing. LDPE and HDPE samplers in addition to polyurethane discs are currently being
evaluated as air samplers for both fenitrothion and fipronil. Field deployments of air
samplers during 2005-2006 have shown promise, however the relationship between the
amounts of pesticide detected in the air samplers and the environmental concentration is yet
to be fully quantified.
A battery of bioassays has been developed at the Australian National Research Centre for
Environmental Toxicology (EnTox) as per Table 1 below. These bioassays are now
operational and available to the APLC for testing new pesticides for locust control at the
Tier l assessment level and for analysing air and water residues for routine monitoring of
spray events.
31

Table 8. Bioassay battery developed for the evaluation of pesticides
Assay Target chemical group Example chemicals
Imaging PAM phytotoxicity Herbicides Diuron, atrazine, simazine etc
Acetylcholine esterase activity Pesticides Fenitrothion, chlopyrifos etc
E-Screen (cellular estrogenicity) Endocrine disruptors Synthetic estrogens, some industrial
chemicals
Estrogen Receptor Binding Assay Endocrine disruptors Synthetic estrogens, some industrial
chemicals
Chemically activated luciferase assay
(ER-CALUX)
Endocrine disruptors Synthetic estrogens, some industrial
chemicals
Microtox (acute bacterial toxicity) Various Phenol, various
Chemically activated luciferase assay
(Ah-CALUX)
Ah-receptor binding
toxicants
umuC genotoxicity Biologically reactive
chemical (DNA damage,
potential carcinogens)
Dioxins and dioxin-like chemicals
Benzo-a-pyrene, chlorination
byproducts…etc
In the last decade, significant developments for both exposure and effect monitoring have
occurred. In exposure monitoring, we are now less reliant on grab sampling strategies due
to the development of time-integrated sampling techniques, often referred to as passive
samplers. Similarly, in effect monitoring the array of rapid in vitro bioassays enables a
wide variety of potential target organisms and, within higher organisms, a large selection of
potential toxic effects (endpoints) can be assessed using such assays. The outcomes from
these projects should not only facilitate more effective and affordable monitoring programs
for regulating the APLC activities, but also provide a key screening methodology to enable
the assessment of new pesticides and a subsequent comparison with existing environmental
effects data and risk assessments.
Australian Research Council Linkage Project LP0669080. Australian plague locust
population genetics and migratory behaviour. Partner Organisations: University of
Sydney.
This project with Professor Steve Simpson (Australian Research Council Federation
Fellow), Dr Greg Sword, Dr Marie Chapuis and Dr Fiona Clissold of the School of
Biological Sciences at the University of Sydney, began in earnest in March 2007 with the
arrival of Dr Chapuis. The aim is to complete the first ever large-scale population genetic
analysis of Australian plague locust. Two as yet unexplored aspects of Australian plague
locust biology that have considerable management potential will be examined:
1) Continental-scale population genetics using DNA microsatellite loci and
2) The expression of a form of phenotypic plasticity known as behavioural phase
polyphenism. By this phenomenon, locusts are influenced by the intensity of their
interaction with others of their own kind. Typically, individuals that develop in
isolation or at low population densities, develop what is known as the ‘solitarious’
condition. Such individuals tend to freeze and creep away from moving objects that
they perceive and, hence, do not aggregate or migrate either as hoppers or adults.
Individuals that develop under conditions of conspecific crowding will exhibit the
‘gregarious’ condition. These individuals are attracted by movement and therefore
32

exhibit migratory, swarm-forming behaviours. Because the phase (or form) of the
adult can influence the phase of its offspring, behavioural transition in other locust
species is centrally involved in seeding the generation of swarms in subsequent
generations (reviewed in Simpson et al. 1999). Behavioural phase change has either
been considered unlikely to occur or likely to be of inconsequential significance in
Australian plague locust, mainly because the phase polymorphisms exhibited by
Australian plague locust are not as pronounced as in species such as desert or brown
locust. However, the basis for this assumption had never been validated by means
of behavioural studies. Consequently, this aspect of the ecology of Australian
plague locust has been overlooked and its elucidation will significantly advance our
ability to predict and possibly manage swarm formation.
Thanks to collections by APLC, University of Sydney and WA Department of Agriculture
and Food staff, samples of Australian plague locust hoppers were collected and preserved
in 95% ethanol from locations in WA, SA, Victoria, NSW and Queensland from 2005 and
2006. DNA has been extracted from these. We have recently succeeded in developing 10
microsatellite markers for Australian plague locust – a major achievement in its own right.
Genetic analyses of the samples using these markers have commenced.
This project has already revealed pronounced behavioural phase changes in response to
local population density and has quantified the time-course of the response. Phase change
is at least as pronounced in Australian plague locust as in the desert locust, Schistocerca
gregaria, with solitary-reared Australian plague locusts being cryptic in their behaviour
and avoiding other locusts, whereas crowd-reared Australian plague locust are much more
active and attracted by the sight of others (Figure 12). This transition occurs rapidly,
within a matter of hours, and is triggered by physical contact among locusts. These
experiments have involved establishing laboratory cultures of Australian plague locust at
the University of Sydney, both crowded and solitary-reared, and also developing a
behavioural assay for measuring phase state. We have employed the video capture and
image analysis software EthoVision to automate the assay – which is a breakthrough in
locust research.
Figure 12. Examples of density-dependent behavioural phase change in Australian
plague locust hoppers.
Bars are means ± SE for responses (a to d – see key) of crowded (shaded, N=92) and isolation-reared (white,
N=78) hoppers individually-assayed for 600s relative to isolated insects, crowd-reared C. terminifera (a) walk
longer, (b) farther, (c) faster, and (d) are attracted to conspecifics.
33

Publications
Journal Articles
Spurgin, P.A. (2006) Controlling the Australian plague locust: old foe, new technologies.
Chemistry in Australia 73: 24-27.
Östrand, F., Elek, J.A. and Steinbauer, M.J. (2007) Monitoring autumn gum moth
(Mnesampela privata): relationships between pheromone and light trap catches and
oviposition in eucalypt plantations. Australian Forestry 70: 185-191.
Short, M.W., Schmidt, S. and Steinbauer, M.J. (2006) A key to some genera of Australian
large nocturnal Ichneumonidae (Hymenoptera), including flight periodicities and
influence of moon phase on light trap catches. The Australian Entomologist 33: 49-55.
Steinbauer, M.J. (2006) Re-collection and tentative host record for Hygia
(Australocolpura) sandaracine Brailovsky (Hemiptera: Coreidae, Colpurini). The
Australian Entomologist 33:23-25.
Steinbauer, M.J. and Weir, T.A. (2007) Summer activity patterns of nocturnal
Scarabaeoidea (Coleoptera) of the southern tablelands of New South Wales. Australian
Journal of Entomology 46: 7-16.
Steinbauer, M.J., Short, M.W. and Schmidt, S. (2006) The influence of architectural and
vegetational complexity in eucalypt plantations on communities of native wasp
parasitoids: towards silviculture for sustainable pest management. Forest Ecology and
Management 233:153-164.
Fildes, K., Astheimer, L.B., Story, P.G., Buttemer, W. A. and Hooper, M. J. (2006).
Cholinesterase response in native birds exposed to fenitrothion during locust control
operations in eastern Australia. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 25(11): 2964-
2970.
Conference Proceedings
Spurgin, P.A. (2007). Operational use of the biopesticide Green Guard in Australia:
Lessons learned. International Workshop on the Future of Biopesticides in Desert
Locust Management. The Orthopterists’ Society. Saly, Senegal, 12-15 February 2007.
Story P.G. (2006). Environmental due diligence and locust control - an Australian
perspective. Proceedings of the International Conference on Pesticide Use in
Developing Countries: Environmental Fate, Effects and Public Health Implications.
African Network for the Chemical Analysis of Pesticides and the Society of
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. Arusha, Tanzania, October 2006.
Buttemer, W.A., Story, P.G., Fildes, K.J., Baudinette, R.V. and Astheimer, L.B. (2006).
Fenitrothion affects exercise endurance but not aerobic capacity in the fat-tailed dunnart
(Sminthopsis crassicaudata). Proceedings of the International Conference on Pesticide
Use in Developing Countries: Environmental Fate, Effects and Public Health
Implications. African Network for the Chemical Analysis of Pesticides and the Society
of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. Arusha, Tanzania, October 2006.
Müller, J., Story, P.G., Vanek, M., Muller, R., Tang, J., Kennedy, K. and Bartkow, M.
(2006). Combining passive sampling and in-vitro bioassays for the environmental risk
assessment of fipronil and fenitrothion. Proceedings of the International Conference on
Pesticide Use in Developing Countries: Environmental Fate, Effects and Public Health
Implications. African Network for the Chemical Analysis of Pesticides and the Society
of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. Arusha, Tanzania, October 2006.
34

Annex 1: Environmental Management System: Objectives and conformance
Programme Sub-project Progress (2006-07)
1. Excellence in all
operational areas
2. All waste managed
appropriately
3. Minimise the
intensity, extent and
duration of
disturbance to native
flora and fauna
4. Contribute to our
understanding of
natural and managed
ecosystems
5. Avoid disturbance
to protected
sites/areas
6. Ensure
stakeholders are
aware of all
environmental
obligations and they
assist APLC achieve
these.
Staff trained to full
field competence
DGPS used in all
aircraft
Improved control
efficiency (area
treated for band
control > swarm
control)
Waste management
contract
Incidents effectively
managed
Reduce the
proportional use of
fenitrothion in
control ops by 25%
Increased successful
use of fipronil and
larger track spacing
Develop risk
assessment process
for APLC
pesticides, based on
outcomes of
environmental
research.
Develop field
protocols based on
research
Development of the
GIS and
OpsManager®
sensitive area
database
Include in Handheld
PDA's
Procedures and
buffers developed to
avoid disturbance
Develop
environmental
aspect into APLC
stakeholder training
course.
Landholder
consultation prior to
and after pesticide
application
New staff progressing through competency based training
system to extent possible given limited locust populations
dGPS mandatory in spray aircraft to provide detailed record
of spraying operations
One successful small band control campaign carried out with
no significant swarms forming that required control
Trials on Discrete Strip Spraying (DSS) technique indicate
significant potential for improved control efficiency and
reduced environmental impact
Contract still being researched
Condobolin spill management requirements carried over to
2007-08 due to mixed advice, drawn out testing requirements
and an unsuccessful removal tender.
As adult (swarm) control was not required, Fenitrothion
comprised only a low proportion (8 per cent) of total area
sprayed in 2006-07.
Further trials indicate discrete strip spraying (DSS) of
fipronil barriers was highly effective against hopper bands.
Fipronil Tambo Termite project in progress
Initial investigations on utility of laboratory bio-assays to
screen for potential environmental impact
Fipronil only used operationally as wide track low area dose,
not blanket treatment. Protocol for DSS (barrier) spraying of
fipronil for initial operational use with efficacy monitoring to
be introduced in 2007-08.
Finalised 2004. Upgraded to include Plains-wanderer habitat
2004/05.
Inclusion of other possible sensitive areas depends on
accuracy and availability of environmental stakeholder data
sets.
Handheld PDA's introduced 2005/06 and moving map with
property and sensitive area boundaries used during control.
Buffers for fenitrothion and fipronil remain the same.
Metarhizium buffer for water bodies reduced to 100m upwind
for ULV.
APLC trainers participated in Queensland locust training
course in 2006-07.
APLC training course for States undertaken at Trangie Sep
2006.
All required landholders consulted and pesticide application
notification forms delivered on time.
35

Annex 2: Implementation of external review recommendations
Recommendation Implementation progress
1. The Commissioners and Director should define and enunciate the No specific action identified
roles and responsibilities of the APLC, its Commissioners and Director
and ensure that these are clear and well understood. This should be
undertaken as a matter of priority.
2. It is recommended that each State based Commissioner ensure that States requested to provide outline
operational plans developed in conjunction with relevant state agencies operational plans for APLC
are available for each area of the State.
control in respective member
States
3. It is recommended that the Commissioner representing New South Completed
Wales determine NSW’s policy should the NSW RLPB’s no longer
have the capacity to contribute the NSW funding commitment.
4. The APLC has been and continues to be very effective in carrying out No action required
its responsibilities and is highly regarded by all its stakeholders. It is
most strongly recommended that the APLC continue and should be
commended for its performance over the past five years.
5. A new Strategic Plan is developed for the 2006-10 Period by the Completed
Commissioners and staff of the APLC.
6. It is recommended that the APLC establish a Communications Plan as Communications Plan drafted for
soon as practicable.
Consideration by Commissioners
in October 2007.
7. The APLC and the states give consideration to the establishment of No action: APLC to attend State
Community (Stakeholder) Reference Groups based on the South Committees
Australian model.
8. There needs to be a core of staff trained in locust control in each state. Completed
The APLC should conduct a training program for state based staff.
9. The issue of fatigue management is a major OH&S issue. It is Completed
recommended that the current review of the APLC Fatigue Management
Policy be finalised prior to the Spring 2005 locust season.
10. The Commissioners must ensure compliance with all aerial safety Aerial safety completed and
regulations, ensure staff are accredited when required and ensure that operational recommendations
appropriate staff undergo associated training. The Commissioners must implemented.
examine the Australian Transport Safety Bureau report, the NSW Progressing remaining
commissioned report and other relevant material to ensure the aviation Recommendations.
Safety of its staff.
11. Policy for the provision of assistance for locust control, or the Completed
provision of control agents by loan or grant to a state, must be
determined and enunciated by the Commissioners prior to
commencement of the next locust control season.
12. It is recommended that research into the population dynamics of the The review of APLC research
Australian plague locust be continued in order to improve the
identified population dynamics as
effectiveness of the APLC forecasting program.
a priority. An ARC linkage grant
with Sydney University has been
approved
13. As there is some debate concerning the continued availability of the Included in research strategy
current chemical control agents, it is recommended that research must
be continued as a high priority to seek additional bio-control and
conventional pesticides for use in locust control programs.
Also it is essential that the APLC develop mechanisms to guarantee the
supply of Green Guard.
14. It is the responsibility of each Commissioner and the APLC To be achieved and updated via
collectively to ensure that the planning for locust control is coordinated State operational plans (Rec 2)
with all agencies, landholders and communities impacted by the control
program.
15. The Research Review Committee of the APLC must ensure that all Research Review Committee report
research projects are adequately planned and that all project results are October 2006
collated and available for use by others.
16. It is essential that the staff of the APLC maintain their national and Ongoing no specific action
international involvement within the limitations of their own control
programs.
36

Annex 3: Revenue 2006-07
Australian Government Contribution $1,755,526
Member States Contributions (1)
$1,755,526
Australian Government (Additional Funding: Overheads) $398,100
Member States (1) (Additional Charge: Overheads) $45,395
Miscellaneous (external) Revenue $86,301
Total Revenue $4,040,848
(1) Member State contributions: NSW (32.5%), Victoria (10%), South Australia (5%) and Queensland
(2.5%)
Annex 4: Expenses 2006-07
Employee Remuneration $977,858
Superannuation $190,015
Leave Expense $136,984
Other Employee On Costs $46,200
Staff Training And Development $8,738
Total Employee Expenses $1,359,795
Insecticide Expensed $17,340
Bio-Insecticide Expensed $30,240
Helicopter Charter $32,585
Fixed Wing Aircraft Charter $35,927
Aerial Spray Aircraft Charter 28,667
Aviation Fuel $7,575
Control Ops: Equipment & Freight $60,407
Sub-Total: Control Operations $212,741
Light Trap Operations $10,722
Other Technical & Field Expenses $56,026
Vehicles $302,157
Travel $166,662
IT, Communications & Office Equipment $167,644
Contractors & Research Grants $88,800
Human Resources Services $353
Internal Business Overhead Allocation $133,903
Other Administrative $5,912
Official Hospitality $124
General Office Supplies $12,225
Purchase Publications & Data $13,852
Production Of Publications $6,518
Property & Accommodation $214,099
Memberships & Conferences $6,587
Consultancy Services $87,013
Public Relations & Marketing $1,548
Legal $6,743
Total Supplier Expenses $1,493,629
Depreciation & Amortisation $58,595
Corporate Expenses (Funded) $398,099
Corporate Expenses (UnFunded) $45,395
Interest Expense $1,719
Total Other Expenses $503,808
Total Expenses $3,357,232
37

Annex 5: Accumulated Results
Accumulated Results: 1 July 2006 -$23,778
Net Result 2006 - 07 $683,616
Accumulated Results Carry Over: 1 July 2007 $659,838
38