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 April 2013 Forecast until mid-June 2013
Following early hatching of the Moroccan Locust (DMA) in most of Central Asian countries, almost 174,000 ha have been treated in April. Hatching of Italian Locust (CIT) and Asian Migratory Locust (LMI) should start in early May but could be delayed in some countries due to heavy rains...
General Situation during September 2012 Forecast until mid-November 2012
Locusts were progressively disappearing from all Caucasian and Central Asian (CCA) except in Uzbekistan where infestations of the Asian Migratory Locust (LMI) were reported around the Aral Sea. Only 600 ha were treated this month in the Russian Federation. The situation was calm everywhere and no further development is expected...
General Situation during August 2012 Forecast until mid-October 2012
As locust pests were completing their life cycle, the campaign ended in all Caucasian and Central Asian (CCA) countries except in Armenia and the Russian Federation, where control operations were still being undertaken. Remaining locust populations will disappear progressively and no further development is expected this year. Nevertheless, the situation...
General Situation during July 2012 Forecast until mid-September 2012
With progressive fledging of the three locust pests, the 2012 locust campaign was coming to an end in most Caucasian and Central Asian (CCA) countries. However, the current situation continued to be serious in the Russian Federation, where more than 1.6 million ha were treated (an increase of 45% as...
General Situation during June 2012 Forecast until mid-August 2012
The locust situation improved in June in southern Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA), where control operations were almost completed but deteriorated in the north, in particular in Kazakhstan and in the Russian Federation, where more than 3 million ha were treated during the month. Hopper development of the three locust...