Desert Locust Details
The Desert Locust situation has deteriorated further and is a cause for concern in West and Northwest Africa and in Saudi Arabia. Large numbers of hopper bands are present in Mauritania and to a lesser extent in Mali, Niger, Morocco and Algeria. Swarms have started to form in Mauritania, Mali and Niger. More swarms are expected in the coming weeks. Most of these are expected to remain in place and slowly mature and lay eggs but a few may move into southern Algeria and Morocco. Large numbers of hopper bands are also present on the Red Sea coast in Saudi Arabia. Swarms are expected to form this month, mature and lay eggs on the coastal plains. As some infestations are present in the western interior, there is a risk that swarms could move into the spring breeding areas of the Saudi Arabian interior and threaten Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait and western Iran. The situation is less critical on the western side of the Red Sea where little rain has fallen and hopper groups and bands are present in only a few places in Sudan. Insignificant adults are present on the Red Sea coast of Eritrea and Yemen, and in northern Somalia. Limited breeding continues near Lake Nasser, Egypt. Although control operations are underway in all affected countries, additional assistance is required to reduce locust numbers and prevent a further deterioration of the situation. [map]
17 December. Swarms form in Mauritania and bands in Saudi Arabia
Swarms have started to form in western Mauritania where more breeding has been reported. Hatching and band formation are in progress in northern Mauritania and near Tichla in southern Morocco. Locusts are declining in Mali and Niger although a few bands and swarms were reportedly forming in Mali. Ground control operations continue in all affected countries. A swarm was reported on the northern coast of Sudan and control operations continue along the Atbara River against new adult groups. Hatching and band formation is in progress on the central Red Sea coastal plains and in the nearby hills in Saudi Arabia, and ground control is underway. More hatching and band and swarm formation are expected in the coming weeks. [map1] [map2]
2 December 2003. Hatching starts in NW Africa; laying on eastern Red Sea coast
Hatching has commenced in southern Morocco and northern Mauritania where laying occurred last month after unusually heavy rainfall in October. More hatching is expected and small hopper bands will form. Control operations continue in northwestern Mauritania, southern Morocco, northern Mali, Niger, Algeria, Senegal and Sudan against hopper and adult groups. Small hopper bands have been reported in some of these areas. There are additional reports of swarm laying on the Red Sea coast north of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and groups of adults laying eggs near Lake Nasser, Egypt. These probably escaped from the outbreak in Sudan. Control operations are underway in both countries; two aircraft are operating in Saudi Arabia and are on standby in Sudan. Good rains fell last week on the Saudi Arabian coast north of Jedda. Breeding conditions are less favourable on the coasts of Sudan and Egypt where, so far, only scattered adults have been reported in the Tokar Delta. [map]
24 November 2003. Swarms cross the Red Sea, widespread breeding in NW Africa
Several immature and mature swarms crossed the Red Sea from northeastern Sudan to Saudi Arabia where they arrived on the northern coastal plains between Jeddah and Umm Lajj on 18-22 November. Control operations were immediately started. Additional reports indicate that Desert Locust infestations are scattered and laying eggs over a large portion of North West Africa in Morocco, Algeria and northern Mauritania. These originated from outbreaks in Mauritania, Mali and Niger where ground control continues against adult groups and hopper bands. Ground control operations are also in progress against hopper bands in southeastern Algeria near the Libyan border and against adults in southern Egypt; aerial and ground control operations are underway in Morocco. In Sudan, control continues in the northeast and adults are present on the Red Sea coast in Tokar Delta. [map]
17 November 2003. Adult groups move into northern Mauritania and lay
Mature groups of Desert Locust adults have moved into northern Mauritania since the beginning of November and laid eggs in areas that received heavy rains in October. These probably originated from current infestations in Mali and central Mauritania where late instar hoppers are forming groups and bands. Many of these have fledged into adult groups. A similar situation exists in Niger. As vegetation dries out in these countries, adult groups and a few small swarms are likely to move to Algeria, Morocco and northern Mauritania. Control operations continue against hopper and adult groups in northeast Sudan where small bands are forming. Although no locusts have been reported on the Red Sea coast in Sudan, heavy rains fell on the northern coast of Saudi Arabia where locusts may arrive from Sudan. [map]
10 November 2003. Small swarms move into southern Morocco
Three small mature swarms appeared in the extreme south of Morocco just north of the Mauritanian border on 7 November near Awssard (2240N/1410W). These most likely originated from current infestations in northwestern Mauritania. Ground and aerial control units are being dispatched to the area. Elsewhere, national locust teams are moving to the Red Sea coast in Sudan to increase surveys in areas that may receive locusts from the current outbreak in northeastern Sudan (Atabara River area). Outbreaks continue in Mauritania, Mali and Niger. [map]
7 November 2003. Outbreaks continue in Mauritania, Mali, Niger and Sudan
The outbreaks that developed last month continue in northwestern Mauritania, northern Mali, northern Niger and northeastern Sudan where Desert Locust hoppers and adults are concentrating in the remaining green vegetation, gregarizing and forming small groups. A few small bands have already formed in Mali and Sudan, and a few swarms in Sudan. Scattered adults moved into southern Morocco, central and southern Algeria, and southwestern Libya on winds associated with unusually heavy rains on 21-22 October in the western Sahara. Other adults have moved into southeastern Libya, southern Egypt, and the Red Sea coast in Sudan. A swarm report on the Red Sea coast in Saudi Arabia (24 Oct) could not be confirmed. Although ground control operations are in progress in most areas, locusts could move into southern Morocco and northern Mauritania (from northwest Mauritania), southern Algeria (from Mali and Niger), and both sides of the Red Sea coast (from Sudan) in the coming weeks. If it rains in these areas, breeding will occur and a potentially dangerous situation could develop during the winter. Strict vigilence is required to carefully monitor the developing situation in all countries. [map]
28 October 2003. Swarm reported in Saudi Arabia; unusually heavy rains
One small swarm has been recently reported on the coast of Saudi Arabia suggesting that some locusts may be moving out of the outbreak areas in northeastern Sudan (where ground control operations continue), heading towards the winter breeding areas along the coastal plains on both sides of the Red Sea. Unusually heavy rains fell from Dakar, Senegal to the Atlas Mountains in Morocco last week, causing flooding in many areas. Consequently, some locusts probably moved into a wide area of southern Morocco, northern Mauritania and western Algeria from the current outbreak in northwestern Mauritania. Consequently, the outbreaks could extend to there countries. Control operations are in progress in a third outbreak area (Niger) and in northern Mali where locust numbers are increasing. Additional adults have been found in southern Algeria. Immediate action is being taken by FAO and the affected countries to prevent the situation from deteriorating further. Strict vigilence is required to carefully monitor the developing situation in all countries. [map]
17 October 2003. ALERT! Outbreaks in Mauritania, Niger and Sudan
During the past two weeks, new Desert Locust outbreaks have developed in Mauritania (dense laying and gregarizing hopper patches in the northwest) and Sudan (several swarms in the northeast). Ground control operations have commenced in both countries. Another outbreak is in progress in Niger (gregarizing adult and hopper groups in Tamesna). The situation continues to be of concern in northern Mali (increasing locust densities). Consequently, southern Morocco, southern Algeria and the Red Sea coastal plains could be at risk in the coming weeks. Immediate action is being taken by FAO and the affected countries to prevent the situation from deteriorating further. Strict vigilence is required to carefully monitor the developing situation in all countries. [map]
3 October 2003. Potential outbreak developing in Niger
There has been a significant increase in Desert Locust activity in the past few weeks. Unusually good rains and ecological conditions have led to gregarization in Niger where an outbreak may develop. Small groups of adults and small hopper bands are present in Tamesna west of Agadez. Limited control operations may be required in the coming weeks. Small swarms may form and could move to southern Algeria and northern Mali. Small-scale breeding continues in southern Mauritania, northern Mali and Sudan where low numbers of adults and hoppers are present. Isolated adults are present on the Red Sea coast of Eritrea and persist along the Indo-Pakistan border. Strict vigilence is required to carefully monitor the developing situation in all countries. [map]
4 September 2003. Locust numbers slowly increasing in summer breeding areas
The Desert Locust situation remains calm in all countries. Good rains continued for a second consecutive month in most of the summer breeding areas in West Africa, Sudan, western India and floods occurred along the Sudan/Eritrean border. Small-scale breeding is in progress and low numbers of solitarious hoppers and adults are present in southern Mauritania, northern Mali, Niger and Sudan. A similar situation may exist in southern Algeria, northeastern Chad and western Eritrea. Isolated adults were reported in eastern Pakistan and are probably present in western India. Locusts will continue to increase in the coming weeks. Strict vigilence is required to carefully monitor the developing situation in all countries. [map]
5 August 2003. Locust numbers expected to increase in summer breeding areas
The Desert Locust situation remains calm in all countries. Nevertheless, there has been very good rainfall throughout most of the summer breeding areas in West Africa, Sudan and along the Indo-Pakistan border. So far, only low numbers of adults have been reported in Niger, Chad, Sudan and Pakistan. Similar populations are likely to be present in southern Mauritania, northern Mali, and western India. Limited control operations treated hopper and adult groups near the Malian border in southern Algeria in July. Locust numbers will increase in the coming weeks as a result of small-scale breeding in areas of recent rainfall. Regular surveys are recommended to carefully monitor the developing situation. [map]
2 July. Breeding conditions improve in West Africa where scattered locusts are present
The Desert Locust situation continues to be calm in all countries. Low numbers of adults are present in northern Mali, Niger and southern Algeria. There was a report of hopper and adult groups unusually far north in Libya and unconfirmed reports of locusts in two oases in eastern Niger. This may suggest an earlier movement of adults from breeding areas in southern Algeria. In the coming weeks, small-scale breeding is expected to occur in some places between Mauritania and Sudan, and perhaps along the Indo-Pakistan border. [map]
3 June. Good rains have started in some summer breeding areas; calm locust situation
The Desert Locust situation continues to be calm in all countries. A joint Algerian-Libyan border survey found a few adults in southwestern Libya last month. Isolated adults are also present near Gao, Mali and in a few farms in southern Egypt. One hopper was seen in northen Oman. Good rains have occurred in the summer breeding areas in Sudan and may also have fallen in northern Chad. Small-scale breeding may start in some of these areas in the coming weeks but no significant developments are expected. [map] [rain]
7 May. Situation remains calm
The Desert Locust situation continues to be calm in all countries. Only individual solitary adults are present in northeastern Morocco, northern Niger and western Pakistan. Dry conditions and no locusts were seen during a month-long Iran/Pakistan Joint Survey in their common breeding areas. Good rains fell near Jizan, Saudi Arabia that could give rise to small-scale breeding. Good rains also fell recently in northern Oman and northern Somalia. No significant developments are expected. [map]
16 April. Situation remains calm
The Desert Locust situation continues to be calm in all countries. Ground teams treated 550 ha of adults and hoppers in central Algeria. Isolated breeding was reported in north-western Mauritania and Niger. A few adults persisted from earlier breeding in northeastern Sudan. There were unconfirmed reports of locusts in northern Mali and southern Yemen.Isolated adults are present in western Pakistan where small-scale breeding may occur in the coming weeks. A joint survey is underway along the Iran/Pakistan border. No significant developments are expected. [map]
4 March. Situation calm, heavy rains in southern Pakistan
The Desert Locust situation remains calm in all countries. Small-scale breeding is coming to an end in subocastal areas of northeastern Sudan and conditions are becoming dry in the winter breeding areas along both sides of the Red Sea because of poor rainfall. There were unconfirmed reports of locust adults and hoppers in northern Mali. Unusually heavy rains fell in southern Pakistan including the spring breeding areas of Baluchistan where small-scale breeding is expected in the coming weeks. Nevertheless, no significant developments are expected. [map]
3 February. Calm situation
The Desert Locust situation remains calm in all countries. Only insignificant numbers of solitarious adults are present in Niger, southern Algeria and northwestern Somalia. There were unconfirmed reports of locust adults and hoppers in northern Mali. Limited breeding could occur in the coming weeks in a few places on the Red Sea coasts of Eritrea, Sudan,Saudi Arabia and Yemen. A few adults may start to appear in the spring breeding areas in western Pakistan. Nevertheless, no significant developments are expected. [map]
9 January. Calm situation
The Desert Locust situation is calm in all countries. Only insignificant numbers of solitarious adults are present on the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden coasts of Yemen and probably on the coast of Sudan. Limited breeding will occur in the coming weeks on the Red Sea coasts of Yemen and Sudan as well as parts of Saudi Arabia. Small-scale breeding is in progress in western Mauritania but this will decline unless further rains fall. Elsewhere, isolated adults were present in Morocco and southern Algeria. No significant developments are expected during January. [map]
A service provided by the Migratory Pests Group to monitor the world-wide locust situation and keep
affected countries and donors informed of expected developments.
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, Rome, Italy
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