Entomologist Dr Murray Fletcher said there had been an increase in locusts around Orange.

"If they were a plague it would have happened by now," he said.

Dr Fletcher said he had noticed mainly the yellow-winged locusts around his house while the insects have also been noticed in the CBD and around the visitors centre and art gallery buildings at Southcourt.

"There is a lot at the moment, they are probably coming into town because of the drought. They may be looking for food. They like to be where there are lights," he said.

"It is normal for them to be around at this time. I haven't seen these numbers in Orange in the last few years."

Dr Fletcher said locusts were a type of grasshopper.

A Department of Primary Industries spokesman said the yellow-winged locusts were easily confused with Australian plague locusts.

"Yellow-winged locust are common at this time of the year, however not something the DPI gets involved with controlling, as they are not a declared locust pest under legislation," he said.

"Landholders can control yellow-winged locust, on [their] farm like any other pest insect."

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