FAO Desert Locust Bulletin No. 353 - 03 Mar 2008

General Situation during February 2008
Forecast until mid-April 2008

The Desert Locust situation continued to be serious in parts of the Central Region during February. Several swarms formed in central Oman and moved through eastern Yemen, Saudi Arabia, UAE to southern Iran. Hatching and hopper band formation are likely to occur in southern Iran. Immature swarms persisted in rugged areas of southern Ethiopia where little control could be carried out.

These swarms are expected to move to the Ogaden region and perhaps to northern Somalia and breed. Locusts declined in the winter breeding areas on the Red Sea coast, especially in Sudan, and no signifi cant developments are expected. The situation remained calm in the Western Region.

Western Region. The situation continued to remain calm during February. Small-scale breeding continued for the fourth consecutive month in northwest Mauritania but locust numbers remained low and insignifi cant. Locusts increased slightly in central and southern Algeria where scattered adults were present in several areas.

Low numbers of adults are likely to be present in parts of northern Mali and Niger but surveys could not be conducted in these areas due to insecurity. Scattered adults are expected to persist in these countries and small-scale breeding could occur if further rains fall. No signifi cant developments are likely during the forecast period.

Central Region. As vegetation dried out, several small immature swarms formed in central and southern Oman by mid February. Most of the swarms moved through UAE to southern Iran while a few swarms fi rst moved to eastern Yemen and then crossed the Empty Quarter in eastern Saudi Arabia to the Persian Gulf.

The swarms were highly mobile so only limited control operations could be carried out. Immature swarms persisted in southern Ethiopia, but survey and control operations were hampered by the remote mountainous areas.

Therefore, the current situation is not very clear. Nevertheless, the swarms are likely to remain in the Harar Highlands and eventually move to the Ogaden region and breed when the long rains begin in March or April.

There is a low to moderate risk that a few swarms could move to northern Somalia. Locusts declined on the Red Sea coast of Sudan where ground control operations were carried out against late instar hopper bands and adults in the Tokar Delta. A few adults were present in southern Egypt.

Eastern Region. Small-scale breeding occurred on the southeastern coast of Iran during February. On the 20th, a small swarm from the northeastern Arabian Peninsula arrived on the southern coast, dispersed and laid eggs.

As only part of the swarm was treated, hatching and small hopper band formation will occur in March. Scattered adults are likely to be present in western Pakistan. Locust numbers are expected to increase in the spring breeding areas of Baluchistan in Iran and Pakistan from breeding that occurs during the forecast period.

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