Locust Watch

Briefs

Latest updates of the locust situation

23/10/2023
OVERVIEW: A tropical depression formed in the Arabian Sea of the Indian Ocean on 17 October, where it moved west
and then northwest towards the southern coast of Yemen and Oman. On 23 October, rains began to fall just after
midnight on the coast from Al Ghaydah in eastern Yemen to Salalah in southern Oman. The cyclone is expected to
make landfall on the coast south of Al Ghaydah near Haswayn in the afternoon. After that, it will weaken as it moves
northwest in the interior south of Thamud on the 24th and eventually disperse.
PRECIPITATION: Rains will be heavy in the coastal areas near Al Ghaydah on Monday and Tuesday. Light rain is
expected on Tuesday and Wednesday in the interior of the plateau near Remah and the Empty Quarter close to Umm
Al Melh and Al Kharkhir in Saudi Arabia.
LOCUSTS: Some locusts in Yemen and Oman might reach the eastern plateau of Yemen and the Empty Quarter of
Saudi Arabia where they could eventually breed in November and December.


04/10/2023
  • Current situation (breeding): Chad, Mauritania, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Sudan
  • Current situation: A few swarms in Ethiopia, Sudan, Yemen; Groups in Oman, Saudi Arabia, Sudan; Adults in Chad, Egypt, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Pakistan, Somalia
  • Control: small operations in Ethiopia, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Sudan
  • October–November: above normal rains in summer breeding areas for small-scale breeding in northern Sahel (Mauritania to western Eritrea)
  • Winter season: starts earlier than normal this year on both sides of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden coast from October to February
04/09/2023
  • Current situation: mainly adult groups and a few swarms in Eritrea, Ethiopia, Yemen; low numbers of adults in Algeria, Egypt, India, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia; a few hoppers in India, Mauritania, Sudan
  • Control: small operations in Eritrea, Ethiopia, India, Morocco, Oman, Sudan
  • September–November: above normal rains in summer breeding areas for small-scale breeding in northern Sahel (Mauritania to western Eritrea); below normal in Yemen and Indo-Pakistan
  • September and October: scattered hoppers become adults
  • Winter season: start earlier than normal this year on both sides of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden coast from October to February
16/08/2023

In Eritrea, there was breeding in June on the central coast of the Red Sea coast. When vegetation started to dry out in July, some immature adult groups moved to the Eritrea highland while others probably moved further south on the coast. On 26 July, some immature adults were found in the lowland area in western Afar north of Chifra in Ethiopia and, three days later, a small group of immature were seen at Chifra.

02/08/2023
  • Current situation: mainly adult groups and control in Yemen, Sudan, Eritrea; low numbers of adults in Algeria, Mauritania, Niger, Egypt, Ethiopia, Somalia, Oman, Pakistan, India.
  • August–October: above normal rains in summer breeding areas for small-scale breeding in northern Sahel (Mauritania to western Eritrea); below normal in Yemen and Indo-Pakistan.
  • August: one generation of summer breeding with low numbers of hatching and hoppers; perhaps a few small groups/swarms in northern Ethiopia in early August.
  • September: scattered hoppers and fledgling (after mid-month)
17/07/2023

OVERVIEW: towards the beginning of July, a few small groups and swarms arrived in northern Yemen and moved
through the country as a result of the end of spring breeding and control in Saudi Arabia. However, rainfall is scarce
and current conditions are not suitable for breeding in Yemen where control operations continue. Similarly, some
control was done in the interior of Sudan. Breeding during the summer in the northern Sahel from Mauritania to
western Eritrea is likely to be limited unless more rain occurs.
03/07/2023
  • Current situation: mainly adult groups and control in Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania, Egypt.
  • July–September: above normal rains in summer breeding areas for small-scale breeding in northern Sahel; slightly above or normal in Yemen; below normal in Indo-Pakistan.
05/06/2023
  • CAUTION: Saudi Arabia and Northwest Africa
  • Current situation: mainly adult groups and control in Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Western Sahara, Algeria
  • June: immature adult groups likely move to southern Mauritania and become scattered
  • June–September: above normal rains in summer breeding areas for small-scale breeding in northern Sahel; slightly above or normal in Yemen; below normal in Indo-Pakistan
See also