Locust Watch
Locusts in Caucasus and Central Asia

N.38: July 2015

Published: 18/08/2015

In July, Moroccan Locust (DMA) adults only were present in Central Asian countries as well as in Azerbaijan. Limited control operations were carried out (on less than 10 000 ha) and egg-laying surveys were in progress. Italian Locust (CIT) hopper development was in progress in Armenia while fledging occurred almost everywhere in Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The situation continued to be considered as serious in Georgia, Kazakhstan and Russia. Asian Migratory Locust (LMI) fledged in Kazakhstan, Russia and Uzbekistan; in Russia, an outbreak developed and adults formed swarms, some of them reaching Azerbaijan in mid-July, when strong northerly winds blew. Control operations against the three locust pests and against grasshoppers continued in all CCA countries, where more than 1.14 million hectares have been treated. Since the beginning of the 2015 anti-locust campaign, locust infestations have been controlled on more than 4.8 million ha in Caucasus and Central Asia.