6 January 2025: Outbreak in Eritrea

Key points:
- Overview: Outbreaks continued in Niger and Sudan; small outbreak developed in Eritrea
- Current situation: Groups, bands and small swarms in Sudan; groups and bands in Eritrea; scattered locusts and a few groups along the coasts of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen; few swarms in Oman; isolated adults in northwest Somalia and India. Groups in Niger and Algeria; isolated hoppers and adults in Mauritania; few adults in Morocco.
- Control operations: Increase during December (14 553 ha) compared to November (4 162 ha)
- Forecast: Second-generation breeding is expected to continue with hatching, hoppers groups, and bands increasing from early January onwards along the coast of Sudan, Eritrea, and possibly southeast Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Small groups could persist in northern Niger and southern Algeria. Some control operations will be required.
The desert locust outbreaks continued in December in Niger and Sudan, while a small outbreak developed along the Red Sea coast of Eritrea where a few bands and groups of hoppers and adult increased. In Sudan, adult groups and swarms migrated from the interior to the Red Sea coast for a second generation of winter breeding, while a few hopper groups and bands were seen in southeast Egypt. Scattered locusts and some groups were present in Saudi Arabia and Yemen, with a few bands and immature swarms in northern Oman and isolated adults in northwest Somalia. Groups of hoppers and adults were seen in northern Niger and southern Algeria, while some locusts were present in northwest Mauritania and Morocco. Control operations increased threefold compared to November.
During the forecast, second-generation breeding is expected to continue with hatching, hoppers groups, and bands increasing from early January onwards along the coast of Sudan, Eritrea, and possibly southeast Egypt and Saudi Arabia. While control is required, additional rainfall may be necessary along the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden coasts for more breeding. In the Western Region, small groups could persist in northern Niger and southern Algeria. Some control will be necessary. No significant developments are expected in the Eastern Region.
Download the full Desert Locust bulletin.