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 2020 Forecast for April 2020
Moroccan Locust (DMA) hatching started significantly earlier than last year in Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan (and probably Turkmenistan), as a result of a warm weather with close to or below the normal rainfall in late winter - early spring. Overall, warmer and drier conditions ensured good overwintering of eggs. If...
General situation from November 2019 to February 2020 Forecast until late March 2020
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, no development is expected as no hatching will occur....
General situation during August 2019 Forecast until mid-October 2019
Italian Locust (CIT) mating and egg-laying continued in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Migratory Locust (LMI) mating and egglaying continued in Kazakhstan, Russian Federation and Uzbekistan. During the forecast period, locusts will complete their natural cycle in most areas. Control operations ended in all countries;...
General situation during July 2019 Forecast until mid-September 2019
Hot and dry weather accelerated die-off of the Moroccan Locust (DMA) everywhere, with some limited swarm flights still occurring in Tajikistan. Italian Locust (CIT) and Migratory Locust (LMI) hopper development completed, followed by mating and egg-laying. Control operations were winding down in most countries except for Kazakhstan and Russian Federation....
General situation during June 2019 Forecast until mid-August 2019
Hot and dry weather accelerated Moroccan Locust (DMA) development and late-instar hoppers and adults prevailed in its populations. In the southern areas of Central Asia (CA) its life cycle came to an end while swarm flights, mating and egg-laying continued elsewhere. During the forecast period, DMA egg-laying will subside and...