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Desert locust situation improves in Sahel, remains serious along both sides of Red Sea

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World
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FAO
Publication date

General Situation during December 2012
Forecast until mid-February 2013

The Desert Locust Situation improved in the Sahel of West Africa as locust numbers declined during December due to control operations in Niger and Mauritania and drying conditions. On the other hand, the situation remained serious in winter breeding areas along both sides of the Red Sea where adult groups and small swarms laid eggs, giving rise to hopper bands in Egypt, Sudan and Saudia Arabia. Although control operations were undertaken, more breeding is expected and small hopper bands and swarms are likely to form during the forecast period. In Northwest Africa, small-scale breeding and low temperatures will cause locust numbers to increase slowly in Western Sahara, northwest Mauritania and southern Algeria where small groups and hopper bands may form. All efforts are required to monitor the situation and undertake the necessary control operations.

Western Region. Small groups of hoppers and adults continued to form in early December in Niger and northwest Mauritania but infestations declined during the remainder of the month as a result of control operations and drying vegetation. There was no indication of a large-scale migration from West Africa to Northwest Africa. Instead, a few small groups appeared in southern Algeria and laid eggs, groups of immature and mature adults were present in Western Sahara where small-scale breeding was in progress, and solitarious adults were scattered along the southern side of the Atlas Mountains in Morocco. Control operations were undertaken in Algeria and Morocco. During the forecast period, small-scale breeding will cause locust numbers to increase slightly in the Sahara of Algeria and in Western Sahara but low temperatures will delay locust maturation. Small groups may persist in Mauritania while groups may form in Algeria and small bands could form in Western Sahara.

Central Region. Infestations declined during December in the summer breeding areas in the interior of Sudan as adult groups and swarms appeared on the Red Sea coast in southeast Egypt and northeast Sudan and laid eggs that hatched, causing small hopper bands to form. Breeding also took place in Saudi Arabia where hopper groups and bands formed on the Red Sea coast north of Jeddah. Although control operations were undertaken in the three countries, more breeding is expected during the forecast period that could give rise to hopper bands and swarms. Isolated adults were present on the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden coastal plains in Yemen. If rains fall, small-scale breeding will occur on the Red Sea coast in Eritrea and Yemen.

Eastern Region. No locusts were reported in the region during December. Low numbers of adults may appear at the end of the forecast period in a few areas on the coast of Baluchistan in western Pakistan and southeast Iran. No significant developments are likely.