‘Biblical’ swarm of grasshoppers descends on Queensland road

An Aussie driver has filmed the horrific moment “millions” of grasshoppers entirely cover his windscreen.

The horrific moment a swarm of grasshoppers smashed against a motorist’s windscreen has been caught on camera.

The gut-wrenching vision was snapped along a rural road in Laglan, Queensland, late last month.

In what looks like a scene from a horror movie, thousands of grasshoppers can be seen cascading down the drivers windshield and blocking the view of te road.

The chilling footage was captured by local Mark Suhr, who said that “millions” of the insects were “destroying thousands of hectares of grassland of beef-producing country.”

In a statement, a Department of Primary Industries (DPI) spokesperson said properties in Queensland’s Central Highlands, Isaac and Barcaldine areas had reported locust activity in the past six weeks.

The large herbivorous insects are considered a major pest in agriculture as they can breed quickly into swarms.

Bertie Hennecke, chair of the Australian Plague Locust Commission (APLC), said that the grasshopper population could increase to plague proportions if conditions like good rain and healthy vegetation continue in the next few months.

“With ideal conditions, the migratory locust can build up three-to-five generations,” Professor Hennecke told the ABC.

The unbelievable footage is the stuff of nightmares. Picture: Storyful

“You need quite a few generations to build up to get a plague situation.”

A DPI spokesperson said the department reacted to reports in the shortest time possible, but recent flooding in western Queensland had made access difficult at some locations.

“The management of locusts in Queensland is primarily the responsibility of landowners as part of their general biosecurity obligation,” the spokesperson told the outlet.

Last year, the world was stunned after unthinkable vision from the US captured by the distressed residents of Elko, Nevada, revealed the nightmare they had been living in.

The bugs, known as Mormon crickets, resemble fat grasshoppers and are known to appear in parts of the western United States.

They can swarm a place in massive clusters that will completely take over the side of a building or an entire section of road.

In one horrifying clip shared online, the brown creatures can be seen covering the wall of a building with a dark, thick layer of twitching bugs.

“Another day of walking into work to see this,” the caption read, as the camera pans across the unbelievable sight.

“I am not exaggerating when I say, I either work from home, or I quit!” one commented.

“I thought cicadas were bad in Australia but I’ve never seen this before...” an Aussie shared.

“I’d call the cops!” said another.

The grasshoppers pose a great threat to local agriculture. Picture: Australian Plague Locust Commission

The insects caused absolute mayhem across the state, where officials confirmed that they had even caused multiple crashes on the interstate highway.

Local media have reported one fatality from a collision in the area, however it is not clear is this was also caused by the insects.

It can be very hard to predict how big the swarms will be and depends on a variety of environmental factors including late-season snowfall and certain temperatures.

Large populations of the insects pose a concern, not just when they are crushed, but live ones pose a significant threat to local crops.

Originally published as ‘Biblical’ swarm of grasshoppers descends on Queensland road