Locust Watch
Locusts in Caucasus and Central Asia
Moroccan Locust (DMA), Tajikistan 2008 ©FAO/A. Monard

General situation during May 2024, Forecast for June 2024 

Moroccan Locust (DMA) fledging and mating started in all Central Asia (CA) as well as egg-laying mainly in the southern parts. DMA hopper development continued in Azerbaijan, Georgia and the Russian Federation. The DMA situation was classified as cautious in most countries where it is present, but as dangerous in Kyrgyzstan due to outbreaks in some southern districts. Around mid-May, swarm flights, including across borders, were reported by Afghanistan and Tajikistan, where additional control operations were carried out. Italian Locust (CIT) hatching started and hopper development continued in most Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA) countries. Migratory Locust (LMI) hatching was reported in Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation. During the forecast period, the DMA lifecycle will come to an end in CA, but mating and egg-laying will happen in Caucasus and the Russian Federation. CIT hopper development will continue in Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation and northern regions of Kazakhstan. CIT fledging will occur in other regions of Kazakhstan, and also in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. LMI hopper development will continue in Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation. In total, 1 049 172 hectares (ha) have been treated in CCA from the beginning of the 2024 campaign until the end of May, which is 35 percent higher compared to the same period in 2023 (778 220 ha). 

Regional monthly bulletins on locusts

General Situation during August 2014 Forecast until mid-October 2014
In August, the locust infestations declined in all countries as a result of the intense and large-scale control operations previously carried out mainly until the end of July and of the progressive disappearance of the remaining locust populations. Nevertheless, the situation was still worrying in Georgia and...
General Situation during July 2014 Forecast until mid-September 2014
In July, the situation related to the Italian (CIT) and the Asian Migratory (LMI) locusts was still worrying particularly in Georgia, Kazakhstan and Russia. These two locust pests were generally at the adult stage and breeding; gregarious populations were reported in Kazakhstan. Overall, control operations were carried out on almost...
General Situation during June 2014 Forecast until mid-August 2014
In June, the locust situation deteriorated further in Caucasus as well as in northern Central Asian countries. While the life cycle of Moroccan Locust (DMA) that survived previous control operations was coming to an end in most countries, successive and important waves of Italian Locust (CIT) hatching occurred. Asian Migratory...
General Situation during May 2014 Forecast until mid-July 2014
In May, the Moroccan Locust (DMA) fledged in four out of the five countries in which it was already present in April, namely Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, and hoppers appeared in three more countries, Georgia, Russia and Tajikistan. In addition, hatching of the Italian Locust (CIT) started in Georgia,...
General Situation during April 2014 Forecast until mid-June 2014
Due to slightly delayed locust hatching in Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA), in addition to Afghanistan, only three other countries started control operations. Hence, a total of 135 000 ha were treated in April against Moroccan Locust (DMA) hopper bands in Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. DMA hopper development will...