3 April 2026: The outbreaks spreads northwards in Morocco
Key points:
- Overview: The Desert Locust outbreak continued in Western Sahara and Morocco while spreading northwards.
- Current situation: Adult groups moved northward in Western Sahara and Morocco, where breeding increased; hopper groups and bands appeared in Morocco; a few adult groups reached Algeria. Some locusts were also detected in the Canary Islands. No locusts were reported elsewhere.
- Control operations: Decreased in March (25 137 ha treated) compared to February (34 564 ha).
- Forecast: Adult groups and small swarms may continue moving northward into Morocco and Algeria, where increasing breeding may produce new hopper groups and small bands.
In March, the outbreak continued in Western Sahara and Morocco while spreading northwards. Breeding increased in Morocco and extended to areas north of Agadir and near Errachidia. Hopper groups and bands were detected during the second half of the month near Guelmim. In Western Sahara, immature and mature adult groups decreased as they migrated north, though some bred locally. A few immature adult groups reached Algeria during the first week of the month. In the Canary Islands, only isolated adults were reported. No locusts were reported in the Central and Eastern Regions.
During the forecast period, further northward migration of small swarms and adult groups is expected in the Western Region, particularly into Morocco and Algeria, where breeding is likely to increase and new hopper groups and bands may form. Small-scale spring breeding may occur in central and eastern Algeria, southern Tunisia and western Libya. Continued surveys and sustained control operations will be essential to prevent new infestations. In the Central and Eastern Regions, small-scale spring breeding may begin in interior areas of Egypt, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, as well as in southern Iran and southwestern Pakistan; however, no significant developments are expected.
