Desert Locust Details
31 May 2005. Immature swarms move into western Darfur
Five immature swarms appeared near Geneina in western Darfur, Sudan on 25 May. They were seen flying from the west towards the east, suggesting that these are probably the same swarms that were reported earlier in the month in southern Niger and western Chad. They are likely to have moved across Chad on winds associated with the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone - the so-called Southern Circuit migration. As conditions are still dry and rains have just started in western Darfur, these swarms could move further east to Northern Kordofan and the Nile River, perhaps reaching Kassala and the western lowlands in Eritrea. In Saudi Arabia, control operations continue against late instar hopper bands. Those infestations that are not treated could form a few small adult groups in the coming weeks that would eventually move to Sudan. Local breeding and band formation continues in the Tanout region in central Niger. Local breeding is also underway in southern Algeria near Tamanrasset and could be in progress in northern Mali. Ground control operations continue against a few late instar hopper bands and new adults in northeast Algeria near El Oued. Regular and intensive survey efforts are required in Mauritania, Mali, Niger and Chad during the coming months. [map]
25 May 2005. Hopper bands form in central Niger
Local populations of adults recently laid eggs in the Tanout region in central Niger that have started to hatch and hoppers are forming small bands. Ground control operations are underway. Earlier in May, several immature swarms moved along the Southern Circuit from Burkina Faso through southern Niger and may have reached western Chad. Since then, there have been no further reports of swarms. Although no other locusts have been reported in West Africa, small infestations are probably present in northern Mali. Limited breeding is coming to an end in northeast Algeria near El Oued where many of the hoppers are fledging. Consequently, small groups of adults could form there in the coming weeks and start to move towards the Sahel. Small patches of mid-instar hoppers persist in northeast Morocco near Oujda. Ground control operations are in progress in both countries. No further reports have been received from Saudi Arabia where hopper bands were present on the Red Sea coast north of Jeddah last month. Regular and intensive survey efforts are required in Mauritania, Mali, Niger and Chad during the coming months. [map]
4 May. Hopper bands form on Red Sea coast in Saudi Arabia
Small hopper bands are forming on the Red Sea coast in Saudi Arabia north of Jeddah near Masturah where several swarms arrived last month from infestations along the border of Sudan and Egypt and laid eggs. Survey and control operations are in progress. Low numbers of adults are present in the Nile Valley in northern Sudan and southern Egypt. In Northwest Africa, limited breeding continues in the northeastern Sahara in Algeria between El Oued and Biskra where hoppers have reached the fourth instar. Survey and control operations are in progress including a bio-pesiticide trial. So far in Morocco, hatching has occurred in only one small area in the northeast near Oujda. Small infestations are present in northern Mali and probably as well in the Air Mountains in Niger. There were several reports last month of immature swarms, perhaps the same swarm being seen more than once, moving from southwest Mali to northern Burkina Faso. These swarms persisted during the winter in Guinea and are now moving along the Southern Circuit to northeast Mali. They are not expected to mature and lay eggs now nor pose a significant threat. Very few locusts were seen in the spring breeding areas of Baluchistan in western Pakistan and southeast Iran during a joint survey that recently concluded. [map]
15 April. Limited breeding so far in NW Africa
Spring breeding is in progress in Northwest Africa but so far it has been limited to just a few places in the northeastern Sahara in Algeria near the Tunisian border where small infestations of early instar hopper patches are present. Eggs that were laid last month in northeast Morocco have not hatched yet. Unless good rains fall and substantial hatching occurs in the coming weeks, swarms are not expected to form in Northwest Africa this spring nor threaten the Sahel in West Africa this summer. Currently in the Sahel, at least one small immature swarm has moved from the central highlands in Guinea to southwest Mali. A few more could follow and appear in adjacent areas of Burkina Faso where they will move towards northern Mali, join scattered adults that are already present and eventually mature. In northeast Sudan, locust infestations have declined because of control operations and adults moving inland to the Nile Valley in northern Sudan and perhaps across the Red Sea to Saudi Arabia. A few infestations still remain near the coast in southeast Egypt. A joint Iran/Pakistan survey is in progress in the spring breeding areas of Baluchistan in western Pakistan and southeast Iran where unusually heavy rains fell for the second consecutive month. There is a risk that populations could dramatically increase in this area during the spring. [map]
5 April. Hatching starts in NW Africa; immature swarms in NE Sudan
Limited breeding is in progress in a few places in the northeastern Sahara in Algeria near the Tunisian border and in northeast Morocco near the Algerian border. Hatching has occurred near Biskra, Algeria where first and second instar hoppers are present. More hatching and band formation will occur in other places along the southern side of the Atlas Mountains between Morocco and Tunisia but it will be on substantially smaller scale than in 2004. No invasions of Northwest Africa will occur this spring. Several immature swarms are present in areas of recent breeding near the Red Sea coast on both sides of the border in Egypt and Sudan and control operations are in progress. Some adults have moved towards the Nile Valley. A few immature swarms from last summer persist in Guinea and perhaps in southern Senegal. Smaller infestations are likely to be present in parts of northern Mali and Niger. Low numbers of adults are present in the spring breeding areas in western Pakistan where unusually heavy rains fell for the second consecutive month. There is a risk that populations could dramatically increase in this area during the spring. [map]
16 March. Immature swarms form in NE Sudan
A few immature swarms have formed in the past few days in Northeast Sudan near the Red Sea and the border of Egypt. Several more swarms are expected to form on both sides of the border where hopper bands are currently present. Some of these swarms could cross the Red Sea to Saudi Arabia while others could move further inland in northern Sudan and southern Egypt. In Algeria, egg-laying is in progress in El Oued province in the northeastern Sahara. Although laying may also occur elsewhere along the southern side of the Atlas Mountains from Morocco to Tunisia, it will be on substantially smaller scale than in 2004. Furthermore, Northwest Africa will not be invaded this spring because of failed winter rains and breeding in Mauritania. In West Africa, a few immature swarms persist in Guinea and probably in southwest Senegal; a swarm reached the Sierra Leone border. [map]
10 March. Swarm laying starts in NW Africa
In Northwest Africa, Desert Locust swarms have become mature and started to lay eggs in the northern Sahara of Algeria in the El Oued province near the Tunisian border on 5 March. The eggs are expected to hatch during the first week of April and hopper bands should form shortly thereafter and eventually form new swarms from the last week of May onwards. Aerial and ground control operations continue to decline in Algeria. In the coming weeks, breeding will start in other areas along the southern side of the Atlas Mountains in Algeria and, to a lesser extent, in Morocco, but it will be on a much smaller scale than 2004. As locusts are not present in Mauritania and winter breeding has failed in the north, Northwest Africa will not be invaded this spring. In West Africa, a few immature swarms persist in Guinea and probably in southwest Senegal; a swarm reached the Sierra Leone border. In northeast Africa, ground control operations are in progress against numerous small hopper patches and bands that continue to develop in northeast Sudan near the Red Sea and the Egyptian border. Many hoppers have reached their last stage before becoming adults. In southwest Asia, scattered adults are present in western Pakistan where unusually heavy rain fell last month that could lead to a significant increase of locusts during the spring. [map]
3 March. Swarms maturing in NW Africa
The Desert Locust situation continues to improve in Northwest Africa. Despite intensive control operations that are in progress against immature swarms mainly in Algeria and to a much lesser extent in Morocco, breeding will occur along the southern side of the Atlas Mountains from March to May, primarily in Algeria, but it will be on a much smaller scale than 2004. As locusts are not present in Mauritania and winter breeding has failed in the north, Northwest Africa will not be invaded this spring. Already some adults have matured and are copulating in the northern Algerian Sahara. If laying occurs, hatching is likely in early April and bands will form during April and May. Infestations that are not controlled will form swarms in June that could subsequently migrate to the Sahel in West Africa. It is essential that intensive survey and control operations are maintained in Northwest Africa. Meanwhile, Sahelian countries should prepare themselves for any swarms that could arrive from Northwest Africa in June and July. A few immature swarms that are present in southwest Senegal and in Guinea will eventually move to central Mali from about late March onwards. Control operations are in progress against small bands along the Egypt/Sudan border near the Red Sea. A few small swarms may form and cross the Red Sea to Saudi Arabia. Local breeding is underway on the coast in northern Somalia. Unusually heavy rain fell last month in western Pakistan that could lead to a significant increase of locusts there during the spring. [map]
22 February. Locust situation continues to improve
The Desert Locust situation continues to improve in Northwest Africa where control operations are in progress against immature swarms mainly in Algeria and to a much lesser extent in Morocco. Smaller infestations are probably present in Tunisia. Unusually cold weather continues to delay locust maturation. As locusts are not present in Mauritania and winter breeding has failed in the north, a swarm invasion of Northwest Africa is not expected this spring. Nevertheless, breeding will occur during the spring along the southern side of the Atlas Mountains and, consequently, survey and control operations must be maintained. Control operations are in progress against a few immature swarms in southern Senegal, Guinea Bissau and Guinea. Recently, a few swarms reached the coast of Guinea near Conakry and crop damage has been reported. Small-scale breeding is in progress and hopper bands continue to form on the Red Sea coast in northeast Sudan and in adjacent areas of southeast Egypt. The situation requires intensive monitoring and appropriate control measures should be taken. [map]
7 February. Locust situation improves
Desert Locust infestations in Morocco and Algeria continue to decline due to control operations and unusually cold weather in the past few weeks. Nevertheless, immature swarms persist in many spring breeding areas along the southern side of the Atlas Mountains in both countries and probably to a lesser extent in Tunisia. Immature swarms are also present in southern Senegal, Guinea Bissau and Guinea. Recently, a few swarms have moved south and east in Guinea. Some swarms may also be present in in parts of Gambia. Although the situation is expected to continue to improve in Northwest Africa and a large-scale swarm invasion is not likley this spring, survey and control operations must be maintained. Small-scale breeding is in progress and hopper bands are forming on the Red Sea coast in northeast Sudan and in adjacent areas of southeast Egypt. The situation requires intensive monitoring and appropriate control measures should be taken. [map]
In the past week, Desert Locust control operations have declined by about 50% in Morocco and 20% in Algeria. Immature swarms persist in northeast Morocco and in some inaccessible valleys in the Atlas Mountains. Similar populations are present in northern Algeria. Control operations have ended in Mauritania where only one immature swarm was seen earlier this month on the coast north of Nouakchott and scattered adults were present in the south near Kaedi. Limited control operations continue against a few immature swarms in parts of Gambia and southern Senegal. Control operations are being organized to treat small infestations of immature swarms in Guinea Bissau and northwest Guinea. Breeding is unlikely to occur in either country because adults are expected to remain immature. So far, there has not been any significant breeding in winter areas along the Red Sea coast except in northeast Sudan where several swarms were seen copulating south of the Egyptian border in Wadi Diib. Insignificant numbers of locusts are present in Tokar Delta, Sudan and on the Red Sea coastal plains near the Yemen / Saudi Arabia border.
10 January. Locusts persist in Guinea Bissau
Some immature Desert Locust swarms persist in parts of Gambia, in southern Senegal, in northern, central and eastern Guinea Bissau, and probably small populations are present in neighbouring areas of northern Guinea. Intensive aerial and ground control operations continue against immature swarms in the valleys and plateaux of the Atlas Mountains in southwest and northeast Morocco. Similar operations are in progress in the central and northern Sahara and Atlas in Algeria. In the past few days, there has been a slight decline in operations in both countries. The situation is improving in Mauritania where the number of swarms in the south have decreased recently. Aerial control operations were undertaken against two mature swarms that were laying eggs in northeast Sudan near the Egyptian border and the Red Sea coastal hills. Scattered locusts continue to be present in adjacent areas in southeast Egypt. [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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