Attachments
General Situation during August 2013
Forecast until mid-October 2013
The Desert Locust situation remained generally calm during August except in Yemen where hopper and adult groups and at least one swarm were reported in the interior. Although breeding conditions remain favourable for the formation of small hopper bands and swarms in Yemen, survey and control operations are not possible due to insecurity. So far, very little breeding has been detected in the summer breeding areas of the Sahel from Mauritania to western Eritrea, and along both sides of the Indo-Pakistan border. Nevertheless, small-scale breeding is expected throughout these areas due to unusually good rains in August. Consequently, locust numbers will increase during the forecast period and once vegetation starts to dry out, small groups may form. Therefore, regular surveys should be carried out in all countries to monitor the situation closely.
Western Region. The locust situation remained calm in the Region during August. Despite above average rainfall further north than usual in the Sahel, locust numbers remained low in the summer breeding areas of Mauritania, Niger and Chad except in the Air Mountains of Niger where control operations were carried out against groups of hoppers and adults from earlier breeding. The situation is less clear in northern Mali where surveys could not be conducted due to persistent insecurity. During the forecast period, small-scale breeding will cause locust numbers to increase and, once vegetation starts to dry out, locusts could concentrate and perhaps form small groups. In Northwest Africa, limited control operations were carried out against adults that were present near cropping areas in the central Sahara of Algeria.
Central Region. The situation remained generally calm in the Region during August. Only low numbers of solitarious adults were reported in the northern and eastern parts of the summer breeding areas in Sudan. Unusually good rains that fell during August will allow small-scale breeding to occur in September. Consequently, locust numbers are expected to increase and once vegetation starts to dry out, locusts could concentrate and form small groups in October. A similar situation is expected in the western lowlands of Eritrea but surveys have not been undertaken there so far. In Yemen, hopper and adult groups and at least one small swarm were reported in the interior as a result of local breeding. The situation is worrisome because breeding is continuing and small hopper bands and swarms are expected to form but survey and control operations are not possible due to insecurity and beekeepers. In Saudi Arabia, local breeding was underway on the central Red Sea coast that will cause locust numbers to increase slightly during the forecast period.
Eastern Region. The situation remained calm during August. Despite good monsoon rains, only low numbers of solitarious adults were present in a few places of the summer breeding areas along both sides of the Indo-Pakistan border. During the forecast period, small-scale breeding will cause locust numbers to increase slightly in India and Pakistan.