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Desert Locust outbreaks persisted in northern Sudan and the southern Sahara during February. While locust populations declined during the winter season along the Red Sea coast from Eritrea to Egypt, adult groups and swarms remained in the Nile Valley of northern Sudan and southern Egypt. New hopper groups and bands formed along the northern coast of Saudi Arabia. In the southern Sahara, groups of copulating adults, hatching, and early instar hoppers increased in Algeria while some adults moved to the southeast. Groups of adults persisted in Niger and appeared in southern Libya. A few small swarms were seen in northern Chad. Isolated adults were present in Morocco. Control operations continued but decreased compared to January.
During the forecast, spring breeding will commence by adult groups and swarms, primarily near irrigated crops along the Nile Valley in northern Sudan and southern Egypt as well as adult and groups coming from the coast. In Saudi Arabia, locusts will move from the Red Sea coast to the interior for a generation of spring breeding. Numbers are expected to increase in Algeria and Libya during March and April due to laying, hatching, and formation of hopper groups and bands. Some locusts will persist in northern Niger and Chad or perhaps move north. Small-scale breeding is expected in Morocco. Consequently, control operations will remain necessary in these regions. No significant developments are likely in the Eastern Region.
KEY POINTS
- Overview: Outbreaks persisted in northern Sudan and the southern Sahara.
- Current situation: Adult groups and swarms along the Nile Valley of Sudan and Egypt; hopper bands in Saudi Arabia. Groups and breeding in Algeria; small swarms in Chad; groups in Libya and Niger; adults in Morocco.
- Control operations: Decreased during February (25 058 ha) compared to January (41 877 ha).
- Forecast: Spring breeding is expected to commence along the Nile Valley in northern Sudan and southern Egypt, and in the interior of Saudi Arabia. Numbers are expected to increase in Algeria and Libya with hopper groups and bands and some will persist in Niger and Chad. Some control operations will be required.
FAO/DLIS will continue to monitor the situation and provide regular updates and alerts.