Aussie locusts in NZ

[MotherBear]

Aussie locusts hit NZ for summer
5:00AM Sunday March 23, 2008
By Michelle Coursey

Plagues of locusts have crossed the Tasman to make the most of New Zealand's hottest summer for a decade.

Forest and Bird Society president Dr Peter Maddison said there had been unusual insect activity in parts of the country affected by drought.

Swarms of crickets, an insect "associated with drought", had hit the Hauraki Plains and there had been larger numbers of locusts in the northern regions, many of which may have come from Australia.

"It's the remains of the swarms that get over here, but the weather conditions are right to bring them over," Maddison said.

Grass grub beetles, whose growth is encouraged by hot temperatures, had been causing problems in the Bay of Plenty.

"They haven't been a problem for several years, I think," said Maddison.

There have been strange goings-on at sea, too.

More here .

[Welshgirl]

Oh, don't talk to me about crickets We are just getting over an infestation of them at the car yard, thousands of the buggers

Can't say I'm surprised if these invasions are due to the weather - we're still sweltering in temperatures of 26/27 degrees here in Hamilton The nights are cooling down though, but the sun just ain't ready to give in to the approaching winter just yet