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 2022, Forecast for May 2022
Moroccan Locust (DMA) hatching and hopper development was in progress in all Central Asian (CA) countries and in Azerbaijan. No report on the Italian Locust (CIT) hatching was received during the reporting...
General situation during March 2022 Forecast for April 2022
Moroccan Locust (DMA) hatching started in Tajikistan earlier than in other countries, at the beginning of March. DMA hatching in Afghanistan and Uzbekistan was recorded during the second and third decades of March. During the forecast period, DMA hopper development will continue in the above countries, while hatching will begin...
General situation from November 2021 to February 2022 Forecast until late March 2022
Natural cycles of the three locust species – Italian Locust (CIT), Migratory Locust (LMI) and Moroccan Locust (DMA) ended in late summer/early autumn in all countries with eggs laid in the soil, where they overwinter (embryonic diapause).  During the forecast period, DMA hatching may occur in northern Afghanistan and southern...
General Situation during August 2021 Forecast for September 2021
Italian (CIT) and Asian Migratory (LMI) Locusts finished mating and egg-laying in most countries and started to die-off. The situation in August became calm for all species in most countries. A cautious situation with CIT still remains in Georgia. During the forecast period, CIT and LMI natural life cycles will...
General Situation during July 2021 Forecast for August 2021
Moroccan Locust (DMA) natural cycle completed in all Caucasus and Central Asian (CCA) countries, while mating and egg-laying continued in Russian Federation. Italian (CIT) and Asian Migratory Locust (LMI) started mating and egg-laying in...