Authorities say the hotter weather and northerly winds have resulted in large numbers of locusts in parts of northern and central Victoria.

A large number of the insects are moving into northern Victoria, particularly around Mildura, and a large number moved south into parts of Bendigo early yesterday.

The Plague Locust Commission says hatchings in spring could damage crops if the locusts lay eggs this month.

Commissioner Gordon Berg says the insects are likely to remain in the region throughout this month.

“It depends very much on what the weather does, but I would anticipate we’ll see them through April, particularly if it stays warm and then we’ll see them die out in May,” he said.

“Once it drops below about 20 degrees in terms of daytime temperatures, they become inactive.”

Sergeant Geoff Annand from the Bendigo police station says the locusts will affect driving visibility at certain times of day.

“Sunrise and sunset and at night – with dazzling lights. Because with the sun coming through the windscreen, without having a clean windscreen they might not be able to have as good a vision of the road as they should,” he said.