The Australian Wine Research Institute > eBulletin > Agrochemical Updates > Agrochemical Update: Locust management in winegrape vineyards

Agrochemical Updates, eBulletin


Agrochemical Update: Locust management in winegrape vineyards

11 September 2026

The Australian plague locust (Chortoicetes terminifera) is a significant agricultural pest. Recent rainfall has led to abundant green feed and good levels of soil moisture across pasture and mixed farming landscapes in some areas, providing favourable conditions for locusts. If these conditions persist, there is potential for localised dense aggregation or ‘bands’ to form over the next couple of months, and subsequent movement into nearby agricultural production areas later in the season.

The Australian Plague Locust Commission’s June 2026 bulletin outlined its predicted risk status of infestations developing in spring as follows:

  • Moderate to High risk in South Australia’s Riverland, Murraylands, North East Pastoral and Flinders districts, and in Victoria’s Mallee district.
  • Low to Moderate risk in Victoria’s Wimmera/Grampians district and New South Wales’ Riverina district.

This eBulletin provides available options for locust control in wine grape vineyards during the 2026-27 growing season.

CONTROL STRATEGY

1 – Timing

Time applications to control the ‘nymph’ or ‘hopper’ stage (6-12 mm in size) when they around 2-3 weeks old.

  • Nymphs are known to aggregate and form localised bands. At this stage they are flightless and easier to spray than the adult stage which is highly mobile.
  • Nymph control is generally more effective in the late evening or early morning when temperatures are lower and the bands are more settled.

2 – Application

Application of insecticides to control nymphs can be limited to ground spraying and spraying close surrounding vegetation, avoiding spraying of entire vineyards.

  • Drive slowly and apply using undervine or inter-row boom sprays.
  • Keep the boom low to the ground.

3 – Control options

  • Only apply chemicals that are registered for control of locusts in vineyards, or those which have a permit for locust control in vineyards in your state. Follow all label and permit requirements. Where control is based on an off-label permit, retain a copy of the permit.
  • Some active ingredients that were registered in previous years are not still registered for use on grapevines, or available under permit for use on grapevines.
  • Keep spray records for locust control, even if applied only to headland areas, or vineyard roads or tracks.
Active ingredient Activity group Product name Registration Recommended Export Harvest Interval
metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum UN Green Guard SC Premium biological insecticide All states Use no later than 7 days before harvest

Notes

  • Treated locusts can take 8-12 days to die (or longer in cool or cloudy conditions).
  • Apply at 15-30°C and avoid rain within six hours of application.
  • Apply using equipment that produces a droplet size of 80–250 μm.

Products available for locust control under off-label permit only

Application to non-bearing vines (young vines yet to crop) only

Permit number

Active ingredient

Activity group

Products

Permit applicability

Recommended Export Harvest Interval

PER10927 current until 30 June 2030

100g/L alpha-cypermethrin

3A

Registered products with 100g/L alpha-cypermethrin

NSW, QLD, SA, WA only

N/A application is only to non-bearing vines

Notes

  • Other active ingredients included in this permit do not apply to use in vineyards.
  • To minimise the risk of agrochemical residues in export wines, DO NOT spray on foliage or grapes.  

4 – Funding assistance for agrochemical applications

South Australia is the only state currently offering financial rebates for locust control. Primary producers and landholders in key areas in South Australia can apply for a rebate on the purchase of all products that are registered or under permit with the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) for the control of Australian plague locusts. Read here for more information on the rebate.

YOUR OBLIGATIONS

1 – Management

Landholders are responsible for reporting and managing locusts on their land.

2 – Reporting

Locust activity should be reported to the Australian Plague Locust Commission or your local state department of agriculture or equivalent by phone, email or webform.

Phone

  • Australian Plague Locust Commission on 1800 635 962
  • New South Wales to the nearest Local Land Services Biosecurity Officer on 1300 795 299
  • South Australia through the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881
  • Victoria through the Customer Contact Centre on 136 186

Email

Australian Plague Locust Commission: locust.report@agriculture.gov.au.

Webform

Further information

Victoria has developed a 20-minute Australian plague locust e-learning video module. Sign up to access it here.

National and state websites:

For general technical assistance, please contact the AWRI helpdesk on 08 8313 6600 or helpdesk@awri.com.au.

 

This eBulletin is funded by Wine Australia with levies from Australia’s grapegrowers and winemakers and matching funds from the Australian Government. AWRI is a member of the Wine Innovation Cluster in Adelaide, SA.

Agrochemical Updates, eBulletin