Did locust plagues occur in Australia before European settlement?
Locusts and their ancestors have been present in Australia for millions of years. In that time they have evolved the best strategies for living in the harsh Australian environment. Locust plagues are a natural phenomenon which occur when conditions are ideal for breeding over successive generations (see FAQ 4). It wasn’t until the introduction of the European system of agriculture in the late 1800s that locusts became an economic issue and a threat to peoples’ livelihood.
