For the past month or so, pockets of chewing, flying and buzzing locusts have been stripping vegetation in the Richmond area.

The picture above was taken by Jenni Ievers, Marathon Station, Richmond.

Jenni said the swarm usually starts around lunch time and ends about 5pm although some days they linger longer.

“I presume they would be eating the grass, but not noticeably yet,” Mrs Ievers said.

“It’s probably not green enough. They are stripping the trees though.”

Mayor of Richmond Shire John Wharton said there have been isolated swarms of them, as opposed to an engulfing plague.

The real concern is if the swarms begin to merge.

Steve Matheson, principal land protection officer with Biosecurity Queensland, identified them as spur throat locusts.

He said they typically breed up in the Mitchell grass areas during winter, following the warmth of the sun as it rises and falls.

“When they move they are looking for good green feed to build up fat,” he said.

Ironically, it’s one of the trade-offs of having a good season.

*Full story in this week’s North Queensland Register, out Thursday.