Weekly Introduction:
Locust update from the FAO:
Desert Locust outbreak continues on Eritrean Red Sea coast
A local outbreak is in progress on the central Red Sea coast in Eritrea where it developed as a result of good rainfall and green vegetation in November and December 2006. The infestations are limited to a small area near Shieb and Shelshela agricultural areas where groups of hoppers and adults are present. Hoppers are fledging and adults are laying eggs. A second area, Meleet, is infested further north on the coast near the Sudanese border where similar populations have been reported. Solitarious adults are scattered elsewhere along the coast to Tio, and egg-laying and hatching are are likely to occur this month. Seven survey and control teams are in the field, and more than 11,000 ha were treated from 9 to 27 December.