Locust Watch
Locusts in Caucasus and Central Asia

No. 84 August 2022

Published: 22/08/2022

Moroccan Locust (DMA) natural cycle completed in all Caucasus and Central Asian (CCA) countries, except in the Russian Federation where mating and egg-laying continued. Italian Locust (CIT) and Asian Migratory Locust (LMI) started mating and egg-laying in most countries. The situation was still classified as dangerous for CIT in Georgia as well as for all three species in the Russian Federation while it was deemed as caution or calm in the other countries. Summer surveys continued in most CCA countries, except in Afghanistan due to financial difficulties. In total, control operations in July covered more than 413 000 hectares (ha) in CCA, reaching 1 891 926 ha since the beginning of the 2022 campaign, which is about the same than in 2021 (1 898 300 ha). During the forecast period, CIT breeding will continue in Caucasus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and the Russian Federation. LMI mating and egg-laying will continue in Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation.