KEY POINTS
• Current situation: calm in all regions
• January: In Sudan, adult groups increased in the Red Sea coast and subcoastal areas. In Saudi Arabia, a few mature groups of adults were copulating on the northern Red Sea coast. Low numbers of adults were present in southeast Egypt and the Red Sea coast of Yemen.

• March– mid April 2023: In Saudi Arabia, low numbers of adults are likely to move to the interior where good rains are supposed to fall. Rains are expected as well on the coast of southeast Iran and southwest Pakistan during March and April. Consequently, spring breeding may occur on a small scale.

The Desert Locust situation continued to remain calm during February.

In Sudan, adult groups increased in the Red Sea coast and subcoastal areas as vegetation started to dry out and ground teams treated 3 826 ha. In Saudi Arabia, a few mature groups of adults were copulating on the northern Red Sea coast where 410 ha were treated. Low numbers of adults were present in southeast Egypt and the Red Sea coast of Yemen. In the Eastern Region, good rain fell on the coast of Iran for the second month in a row.

In Saudi Arabia, low numbers of adults are likely to move to the interior where good rains are supposed to fall there as well as on the coast of southeast Iran and southwest Pakistan during March and April. Consequently, spring breeding may occur on a small scale.

Surveys and vigilance should be maintained for spring breeding activities.

KEY POINTS
• Current situation: calm in all regions
• December: very small outbreak continued in northwest Mauritania
• January-mid-February 2023: No significant rainfall or vegetation is expected except perhaps in northern Mauritania and the central Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia and maybe Sudan. Locusts will decrease in northwest and northern Mauritania.

The Desert Locust situation continued to remain calm during December.

The very small outbreak continues in northwest Mauritania where hoppers completed development after the first dekad and only groups of immature adults were present. Ground teams treated 2 264 and 562 ha in Mauritania and Morocco respectively. Low numbers of adults were seen in Niger, Algeria and Egypt. In Sudan and Yemen, low numbers of hoppers and adults were observed along the Red Sea coast and the Gulf of Aden.

During the forecast, locusts will decrease in northwest Mauritania due to control and only low numbers will remain. Similar, locusts should decrease in northern Mauritania. No significant rainfall or vegetation is expected in the next six weeks except perhaps in northern Mauritania and the central Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia and maybe Sudan. Low numbers of hoppers and adults are likely to continue in the Red Sea coast of Sudan, Yemen, and perhaps Egypt. In Saudi Arabia, low numbers of adults may occur on the Red Sea coast and breed on a small scale. No significant development is likely.

Surveys and vigilance should be maintained in the winter breeding areas.