Locust outbreak in SW Libya

A small outbreak of Desert Locust has developed in southwest Libya near Ghat and the Algerian border. In early January, hoppers started to concentrate and form small patches in a few wadis, increasing in density to up to 400 hoppers per bush. By the end of the month, locust numbers had increased as well as the number of places infested with locusts. Most of the hoppers had fledged and the newly immature adults were forming groups. There were reports of a small medium density maturing swarm flying near the Algerian border on 4 and 6 February. Some of the adults had already matured and were seen copulating on the 6th at densities up to 500 adults/100m2.

At least two survey and control teams are in the area to monitor the situation and treat infestations with vehicle-mounted sprayers. Nearly 3,000 ha are estimated to be infested and, so far, teams have treated 1,030 ha during the first week of February.

Locust numbers are expected to increase further as hatching commences by the end of the month and hoppers form small groups and bands. There is a risk that adult groups and small swarms could move towards the north during periods of warm southerly winds and reach Ghadames and Al Hamada Al Hamra. The current infestations may extend across the border into eastern Algeria.

UPDATE. In southeast Algeria, an increasing number of solitary immature adults were seen near Illizi from 7 February onwards. Adults were also seen on the Libyan border. Trajectory models suggest that the adults are coming from the current infestations near Ghat, Libya. Algerian ground teams treated 190 ha so far. Additional teams will be deployed to the area.

All efforts are required to monitor the situation closely and undertake the necessary control operations to prevent the situation from deteriorating further and spreading.