In September 2000, as the eyes of the world focused on the Sydney Olympics, many Australian eyes were staring at the horizon, awaiting the rise of a locust plague of biblical proportions - a time bomb that could destroy the heart of rural Australia.The previous summer, normally a time of drought in one of the driest continents on earth, was different. Flooding rains combined with summer warmth provided the ideal conditions for the Australian plague locust to explode out of its normal range and into the fertile southern agricultural lands of Australia, an area equivalent in size to the state of Texas.During the winter of 2000 the huge swarms went to ground, laying the highest density of egg beds ever recorded. In spring the earth came alive as an estimated 1000 billion plague locusts rose up from the ground. As well as looking at the biology of the insect itself, Year of the Locust examines methods of controlling the plague, the aftermath and the people involved.Scene Selection: 01. Predicting Numbers.02. The Young Begin To Hatch.03. The Army Marches On.04. Ready To Fly.05. Organic Control.
In September 2000 as the eyes of the world focused on the Sydney Olympics many Australian eyes were staring at the horizon awaiting the rise of a locust plague of biblical proportions - a time bomb that could destroy the heart of rural Australia.The previous summer normally a time of drought in one of the driest continents on earth was different. Flooding rains combined with summer warmth provided the ideal conditions for the Australian plague locust to explode out of its normal range and into the fertile southern agricultural lands of Australia an area equivalent in size to the state of Texas.During the winter of 2000 the huge swarms went to ground laying the highest density of egg beds ever recorded. In spring the earth came alive as an estimated 1000 billion plague locusts rose up from the ground. As well as looking at the biology of the insect itself Year of the Locust examines methods of controlling the plague the aftermath and the people involved.Scene Selection: 01. Predicting Numbers.02. The Young Begin To Hatch.03. The Army Marches On.04. Ready To Fly.05. Organic Control.
