Attachments
General Situation during March 2016
Forecast until mid-May 2016
A potentially dangerous situation developed during March in Yemen where hopper bands and at least one swarm formed in areas that received heavy rains last November. As survey and control operations are limited by insecurity, locust numbers are expected to increase further, giving rise to more adult groups and swarms that are likely to move along the coast and into the interior, possibly reaching spring breeding areas in central Saudi Arabia, northern Oman and southeast Iran. These countries should take the necessary precautionary measures. In Northwest Africa, hundreds of small hopper bands formed in the southern part of the Western Sahara in southern Morocco and hopper groups formed in adjacent areas of northern Mauritania. Control operations were carried out in both areas. Adult groups and perhaps a few small swarms could form and move to spring breeding areas south of the Atlas Mountains in Morocco and Algeria. Strict vigilance is required in all areas.
Western Region. Numerous hopper groups and bands formed during March in the southern portion of the Western Sahara in Morocco and in northern Mauritania, respectively. Control operations continued to increase in Morocco (5,095 ha) but declined in Mauritanian (659 ha). As vegetation dries out, more hopper groups and bands are likely to form as well as adult groups and perhaps a few small swarms that could move to spring breeding areas south of the Atlas Mountains in Morocco and Algeria, and breed. Elsewhere, the situation remained calm. Low numbers of solitarious adults were present in central Algeria, northern Mali and Niger, and copulating adults were seen in southwest Libya.
Central Region. Groups of hoppers and adults as well as hopper bands and at least one swarm formed on the southern coast of Yemen in March where heavy rains associated with two cyclones fell last November. The extent of current breeding is not well known because survey teams cannot access most areas due to prevailing insecurity. As vegetation dries out along the coast, more groups, bands and swarms are likely to form. There is a moderate risk that adult groups and a few small swarms will move along the coast and into the interior of southern Yemen, perhaps reaching spring breeding areas in the interior of central Saudi Arabia and northern Oman. Elsewhere, the situation remained calm and no locusts were reported except for limited local breeding in northeast Oman.
Eastern Region. The situation remained calm during March and no locusts were reported in the region. However, low numbers of adults are likely to breed on a small scale in areas of recent rains in southeast Iran and southwest Pakistan. There is a low threat that a few small swarms from southern Yemen could arrive in southeast Iran.