WINTER BREEDING STARTED IN THE RED SEA AND GULF OF ADEN

OVERVIEW. The winter season has started on the Red Sea coast and the Gulf of Aden where good rains have fallen in parts of southeast Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and northwest Somalia. Above-normal rains are predicted during November and December. The first generation of hoppers and adults will occur now with a second generation starting at the beginning of January 2024 and continuing until about March or April. For preventive control, operations are mainly in Sudan and Saudi Arabia, some biopesticides in Somalia, and eventually some in parts of Yemen, Egypt, and Eritrea.

WHY IT MATTERS. The winter rainy season starts at the end of October this year along the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden coast which is about one to two months early than normal. In addition, there was a cyclone in eastern Yemen during the last week of October where some locusts could breed in the Empty Quarter. This year, there is El Niño and the positive phase of the Indian Ocean dipole in Eastern Africa, mainly in south-central Somalia and Kenya. Nevertheless, rain has fallen in parts of northwest Somalia which is the Desert Locust recession area. Consequently, surveys should be done in all of the winter breeding areas using eL3/eL3mPRO, collect the data, and decide the right time to do control.

SITUATION. Mainly locusts in Sudan and Saudi Arabia, some in Yemen, Somalia and Egypt.
• EGYPT. Isolated immature solitarious adults in the subcoastal areas of the southeast coast.
• MAURITANIA. Isolated immature and mature solitarious adults on the northwest and north; isolated hoppers.
• SAUDI ARABIA. Scattered immature and mature solitarious adults on Red Sea coast; some solitarious, transient and groups copulating, a few hoppers; treated 400 ha.
• SOMALIA. Scattered and groups of solitarious, transient, and gregarious mature adults and hopper groups on the northwest coast; waiting for current data.
• SUDAN. Scattered immature and mature solitarious adults west of Red Sea Hills and along Red Sea coast; one group near Karora and Eritrea border, one laying swarm north of Suakin; one band of 30 ha treated along Nile Valley.
• YEMEN. Scattered immature and mature solitarious adults Red Sea coast and some along the Gulf of Aden; a few solitarious hoppers on the Red Sea coast.

FORECAST. Maintain current efforts for survey and control as above-normal rains are expected to continue.
• Central Region. More rain, laying, hatching, and hoppers are expected on the Red Sea coast mainly of Sudan and Saudi Arabia with less in Yemen Red Sea coast, Gulf of Aden, northwest Somalia, southeast Egypt, and Eritrea. Groups and control are likely in Sudan, Saudi Arabia and Somalia. Some locusts may breed in the Empty Quarter.
• Western Region. Low numbers of hoppers and adults in the northwest and scattered adults in northern Mauritania; perhaps a few adults in southern Western Sahara. No significant developments are likely.
• Eastern Region. No significant developments from November to January.