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

General situation during June 2024, Forecast for July 2024 

Moroccan Locust (DMA) lifecycle was close to its end in most parts of Central Asia (CA); mating and egglaying continued in some parts as well as in the Caucasus. Italian Locust (CIT) fledging and mating started in CA while hopper development continued in Caucasus and the Russian Federation. Migratory Locust (LMI) hatching and hopper development continued in Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation. In the forecast period, DMA die-off will be completed everywhere while CIT hopper development will continue in the Caucasus, the Russian Federation and Kazakhstan. LMI hatching is expected in northern Kazakhstan and hopper development followed by fledging will continue in its other regions and in the Russian Federation. The total treated area against all locust species reached 2 970 313 hectares (ha) in Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA) since the start of the campaign, which is about 43% higher as compared to 2023 (2 077 205 ha at the same period). This is due to an increase of infestations that occurred mainly in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and the Russian Federation. In the other countries, infestations deviated only slightly from last year's levels, except for Georgia where they decreased by 58%. 

Regional monthly bulletins on locusts

General situation during March 2023 Forecast for April 2023
Moroccan Locust (DMA) hatching started in Tajikistan earlier than in other countries, in the beginning of March. First DMA hatching in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan was recorded during the second decade of March...
General situation from November 2022 till end of January 2023 Forecast until mid of March 2023
Natural cycles of the three locust species – Moroccan Locust (DMA), Italian Locust (CIT) and Migratory Locust (LMI) – ended in late summer/early autumn in all countries with eggs laid in the soil, where they overwinter (embryonic diapause).  During the forecast period, no hatching of all these...
General Situation during August 2022 Forecast for September 2022
The situation was still classified as cautious for Moroccan (DMA), Italian (CIT) and Asian Migratory Locusts (LMI) in the Russian Federation and for CIT in Georgia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, since...
General Situation during July 2022 Forecast for August 2022
Moroccan Locust (DMA) natural cycle completed in all Caucasus and Central Asian (CCA) countries, except in the Russian Federation where mating and egg-laying continued. Italian Locust (CIT) and Asian Migratory Locust (LMI) started mating and egg-laying in most countries. The situation was still classified as dangerous for CIT in Georgia...
General Situation during June 2022 Forecast for July 2022
Moroccan Locust (DMA) lifecycle came to an end in southern parts of Central Asia (CA), while fledging, mating and egg-laying continued in Caucasus and other parts of CA. Italian Locust (CIT) fledging...