Western Region. During January, winter breeding came to an end in north-western Mauritania and continued in the extreme north-west where the vegetation is developing. Groups of hoppers and immature adults were controlled over 104 ha in the north-west. Only a few locusts were reported in Morocco during January. In Algeria, scattered adults were reported from the Tindouf area and the Hoggar Mountains during December and no locusts were seen during January. No reports were received form Mali and Niger for January. New information for December reports that, in northern Mali, 1,705 ha were treated against groups of hoppers and adults on 12-17 December. In Niger, locust populations at densities varying from 100 to 10,000/ha were seen in south-eastern Aïr on 21-28 December. Immature adults at maximum density of 100 adults/ha were observed in Tamesna from 20 December to 5 January. Due to the low temperatures, locust development will slow down during the forecast period. Only local movements between northern Mauritania and southern Morocco and between norther Mali and southern Algeria are expected before the end of the forecast period.

Central Region. In Sudan, mature adults and young hoppers were present in parts of the coastal plains during the first fortnight of January. No locusts were seen in Eritrea in late December. No locusts were seen in Egypt and Saudi Arabia in January. Small-scale breeding will continue in the coastal areas of these countries.

Eastern Region. No locusts were seen during surveys carried out in Pakistan and India in January. No significant developments are expected in this Region during the forecast period.

In West Africa, light to moderate rains fell over northern Mauritania during the third dekad of January (27mm at Nouadhibou on 27/01; 10mm at Zouerate on 28/01). Satellite imagery for the second dekad of January suggested that vegetation was slowly drying out in Dakhlet Nouadhibou, and increasingly green over larger areas in Tiris Zemmour between 24-25N and 10-11W and the Moroccan border. The low temperatures will slow down locust development. Imagery suggested that only a few patches of vegetation persisted in the Timetrine area of north-eastern Mali. The main wadis of the Adrar remained green and vegetation was extending to the north across the Algerian border. In northern Niger, imagery suggested that green vegetation was still present in most wadis in the Aïr mountains and in a few parts of Tamesna.

In North-West Africa, light rains fell over northern Sahara and the Hoggar Mountains (13mm at Djanet) in Algeria during the second dekad of January. In Morocco, light rains were recorded in the south during the second dekad (7.5mm at Tan Tan). Satellite imagery suggests that the vegetation already present in the interior of the Saharan Provinces near Gueltat Zemmour (between 24-26N and 12W) was still developing and extending to the east into northern Mauritania. The presence of a medium to dense cover of green vegetation in the Gueltat Zemmour area was confirmed by a specific survey on 16 January.

In Eastern Africa, light to moderate rains were only reported from Egypt, north to 26N, and at Geneina, in Sudan (72mm during the third dekad). Satellite imagery suggested that vegetation was developing south of the Tokar Delta and further north, along the Red Sea coast, from Tokar to Port Sudan where good rains fell during the second fortnight of December. In Eritrea, an aerial survey at the end of December indicated that natural vegetation was greening on the coastal plains, from Massawa to Wadi Teclai. Further north up to the Sudanese border, satellite imagery suggested that vegetation was well developed on the coastal plain. In Egypt, imagery suggested that vegetation was slowly developing in the south-east, which received rains in late December.

In the Near East, light to moderate rains fell over northern, central and eastern Saudi Arabia throughout the month. Satellite imagery suggested that vegetation was developing on the coastal plains, from Al Lith to the Yemeni border, and in the interior between 2430-28N and 4130-45E. Ecological conditions along the coastal plains and in the interior are expected to be suitable for breeding. In Yemen, imagery indicated that vegetation was drying out along the coastal plains of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

In South-West Asia, light to moderate rains were recorded in parts of the locust winter breeding areas in Pakistan. Elsewhere in the region, dry conditions persisted.

Mauritania 104 ha (1-20 Jan)

Mali 1,705 ha (12-17 Dec).

During January, breeding was coming to an end in Dakhlet Nouadhibou where decreasing numbers of late instar hoppers, fledglings and immature adults were seen. A maximum density of 12,000 adults/ha was reported during the first dekad and this decreased to 250 adults/ha during the second. At the end of the month, only isolated mature adults at low densities were seen in the patches of green vegetation. A total of 104 ha were sprayed in the Taziaset area (2036N/1526W). In North Trarza and Tiris Zemmour, locust breeding at low densities continued on huge areas. Isolated maturing and mature adults were observed at maximum densities of 1,300 adults/ha during the month. An increasing part of the mature population, reaching 30 to 60% during the third dekad, was copulating. Unconfirmed movements of swarms as well as two adults groups and hoppers were reported at El Atiyat (2530N/1110W) during the first dekad. Early hopper instars were seen at two sites during the second dekad. Movements of solitarious mature populations were observed during the third dekad.

A late report indicates that third to sixth instar hopper groups and immature and mature adult groups were present at seven nearby sites in the Timetrine area (19N/00W) from 12 to 17 December 1999. The hopper densities varied from 1,000 to 150,000/ha and the adult densities from 40 to 70,000/ha. The hopper populations consisted of individuals of all phases: solitarious, transiens and gregarious. One female was observed laying. During this period, 1,705 ha were treated out of 2,575 ha infested.

Late reports indicate that adult populations were present in south-eastern Aïr from 21 to 28 December 1999. The densities varied from 500 to 10,000 adults/ha over areas of 25 to 2,000 ha. The highest density was seen in the Tagora wadi (1802N/0919E). Scattered adults were also observed in Tamesna from 20 December 1999 to 5 January 2000 at densities not exceeding 100 adults/ha.

No reports received.

No reports received.

A late report indicates that scattered adults were present in December in the Tindouf area (2742N/0810W) and in the south-western Hoggar (2240N/0434E).

No locusts were reported in January.

No locusts were seen on 16 January in the Gueltat Zemmour area (2436N/1246W) where a medium to dense cover of green vegetation was slowly developing. Only three solitarious adults were reported on 17 January between Zag (2801N/0920W) and El Mahbas (2725N/0910W).

No locusts were reported in January.

No reports received.

During the second fortnight of December, solitary copulating adults at maximum densities of 400 adults/ha were reported from the coastal plain, between Suakin and the Tokar Delta. In the same area, 1,200 ha were infested by solitary copulating adults during the first fortnight of January. 1st to 3rd instar hoppers were present on 4 ha.

A late report indicates that no locusts were seen during ground and aerial surveys along the Red Sea coast, from Massawa to Wadi Teclai, in December 1999.

No reports received.

No reports received.

No reports received.

No locusts were reported during extensive survey carried from Jeddah (2139N/3910E) to the Yemeni border (1624N/4245E) during January. No locusts were reported during intensive surveys along the Red Sea coastal plains, mainly in the Qunfidah district (1925N/4103E), from 17 to 24 January.

No reports received.

No locusts were reported in the extreme south-east on 20 and 24 January and in the Safaga area (2645N/3355E) on 20 January where heavy rain occurred on 20 December and 4 January.

No reports received in January.

No reports received in December and January.

No reports received.

No reports received in January.

No locusts were reported during January.

No locusts were seen during surveys in January.

5. ANNOUNCEMENTS

Locust reporting. Affected countries are kindly reminded to make sure that locust situation reports are sent to FAO HQ by the 25th day of the month so the information can be included in the FAO bulletin for the current month; otherwise, it will not appear until the following month. Reports should be sent even if no locusts were found or if no surveys were conducted.

Reporting by email. Affected countries are encouraged to send completed FAO Locust Survey Forms with a brief interpretation of the results by email to eclo@fao.org. Please do not send this information to individual staff at FAO HQ.

FAO Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in South-West Asia. The 22nd session of the Commission and the 13th session of the Executive Committee to be held in Tehran, I.R. Iran, in January 2000 has been postponed. The revised dates will be announced shortly.

Western Region. A technical and legal consultation on the restructuring of bodies responsible for Desert Locust management in Western and North-Western Africa to be held in Rabat, Morocco, in March 2000, has been postponed to April. The precise date will be announced shortly.

EMPRES (Central Region). The planning workshop for Phase II will be held in Cairo, Egypt, on 26-30 March 2000.