Western Region. Only two immature adults were reported in Mauritania, near Aioun El Atrouss. In Morocco, 456 ha infested by groups of hoppers mixed with fledglings were located and treated in the Drâa and Ziz wadis around the latitude 3030N. Some adults were present in south-eastern Algeria. No locusts were reported from Libya. No reports were received from other countries in the Region. A small scale breeding may be in progress in southern Mauritania, north-eastern Mali and northern Niger where good rainfall occurred during the month. These areas require regular monitoring in the coming months.

Central Region. Only scattered mature adults were present in the summer breeding areas of North Kordofan, in Sudan, and in the north-western part of Somalia. Small scale breeding may be in progress in some parts of the interior of Sudan where sufficient rainfall occurred for the last three months.

Eastern Region. No locusts were seen from the end of May to early July in eastern Iran. Low numbers of adults were still present in Baluchistan, Pakistan, and started to appear in the eastern deserts, near the Indian border, during the first half of July. No locusts were reported from Rajasthan, India, from mid-June to the end of July. These low populations indicate that the summer breeding will be on a very small scale.

In West Africa, the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) broadly fluctuated between 15 ° N and 20° N during July. As a result some moderate to very heavy rains fell in most parts of the northern Sahel (see map). Most of these rains were equal to or above the thirty year average for July in Senegal, Mauritania and Niger. In Mali, however, the reported rainfalls were quite below the expected level for the month, except in the Adrar des Iforas where 80 mm of rain fell in Tessalit which is almost three times the monthly long term average. Winds were highly variable over the Sahelian countries as a result of the fluctuating ITCZ position. As a result of these relatively good rains, most of the vegetation in northern Sahel is greening and conditions are becoming favourable for breeding.

In North-West Africa, only light rains were reported from a few stations in the north-western part of the Region. During the third dekad of July, light to moderate showers were reported in the southern Hoggar Mountains of southern Algeria. Analysis of SPOT-Vegetation satellite imagery suggested that current vegetation continues to dry out or is completely dry in locust areas of all countries in the Region.

In Eastern Africa, prevailing winds were mainly from the north and the north-east. Moderate to locally heavy rains were reported in the northern Sahelian belt of Sudan where seasonal vegetation is greening and conditions becoming favourable for breeding. On the Red Sea coast, some light rains were locally reported in Sudan and Eritrea but most of the vegetation is drying out, especially on the central northern coastal plains of Somalia where no rains fell during the month.

In the Near East, only a few light to moderate rains fell in some areas of the Tihama coastal plain of southern Saudi Arabia and western Yemen where patches of vegetation are greening. Nevertheless, the vegetation remained generally dry and conditions continued to be unfavourable for breeding along the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden coastal plains, in the interior of Saudi Arabia, and on the Batinah coast of northern Oman.

In South-West Asia, the monsoon started during the first dekad of July. Most stations located in eastern Pakistan and western India have reported heavy rains. Vegetation in greening and conditions were recently reported to be highly favourable for breeding. Dry conditions persisted in Baluchistan of western Pakistan and south-eastern Iran.

Morocco 456 ha (18-31 July)

Only two isolated solitarious immature adults were observed on 10 July at two locations near Aioun El Atrouss (1644N/0858W and 1610N/1022W). Routine surveys have not yet started and no other locust activity was reported during the month.

No report received for July.

No report on the current survey in Tamesna and central Aïr was received.

No reports received.

No reports received.

A few scattered adults were still observed in the south-east near Djanet during July.

On 18 July, a few 3rd and 4th instar hopper groups (1 to 2 hoppers per sq.m.) were located south of Errachidia, at Bour Khamlia (3030N/0425W), over a 70 ha cultivated area. On 21 July, 5th instar hoppers mixed with fledglings at maximum densities of 2 individuals per sq.m. were observed at Bour Khamlia and El Khraoua (3100N/0410W) respectively on 100 and 15 ha. At a third place in the same area, 150 ha were infested by 3rd to 5th instar hoppers and fledglings at an average density of 2 individuals per sq.m. Nomads reported a similar situation from Foum Bousseroual (3003N/0415W). All the identified patches were treated between 20 and 31 July.

On 26 July, small groups of solitary adults at densities of 6-7 per sq.m. were located in the Ouarzazate Province, near the Aît Ali Ouhassou dam (3030N/0600W). The 50 ha infested area was treated on 27 July.

No locusts were reported during July.

No reports received.

During surveys carried out in Northern Kordofan on 14- 21 July, scattered mature adults were seen near Korib (1607N/2947E), near Nagat (1609N/2943E) and west of Abu Zaema (1835N/2814E).

No locusts were reported along the Red Sea coast during July.

During surveys carried out from 27 June to 2 July, scattered mature adults were seen in the north-western part of the country in Wadi Togga Dhud, near Meleden (1028N/4948E) and near Ufeyn (1038N/4946E), and in the Nogal Valley, near Xalin (0904N/4838E).

No locusts were seen during a survey carried out in the summer breeding areas in July.

No reports received.

No locusts were reported along the Red Sea coastal plains or in the interior during July.

No locusts were reported during surveys carried out in the areas of recent rainfall of the Tihama coastal plains from 11 to 17 July.

No locusts were seen during surveys carried out during July on the Red Sea coastal plains from Safaga to the Sudanese border, in adjacent subcoastal areas and in several parts of the Western Desert.

No reports received.

The situation is reported to be calm and no surveys were conducted during July.

No reports received.

Two reports indicated that no locusts were seen during surveys carried out from 27 May to 19 June and from 24 June to 3 July in Hormozgan and Kerman provinces.

During the first fortnight of July, low numbers of solitarious maturing adults, up to 3 per ha, were present in the Cholistan, Tharparkar and Lasbela deserts.

No locusts were seen during surveys carried out in Rajasthan during the second half of June and July.

No reports received.

Italian Locust, Calliptamus italicus, plague in Central Asia. According to official source, control operations have been carried out on 7,3 million ha in Kazakhstan from the beginning of the campaign, in May, to the end of July. Swarm control is now in progress in north-western, central and north-eastern parts of the country. As during summer 1999, the most heavily infested areas of Russia. are concentrated along the Kazakh border where 1,3 million ha were already treated.

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.

FAO Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Eastern Region of its Distribution Area in South West Asia. The 13th session of the Executive Committee and the 22nd session of the Commission will be held in Tehran, I.R. Iran, on 17-21 September.

Monthly rainfall maps. Maps of monthly rainfall for 2000 (January - July) are available on the locust webpages at: http://www.fao.org/news /global/locusts/archiv00.htm

Pictures from the recent national training course on Desert Locust survey and control in Pakistan are available on the locust webpages at: http://www.fao.org/news/global/locusts/paktrain/pakmain.htm

The 1999 Report of the Pesticide Referee Group is available for downloading on the locust webpages at: http://www.fao.org/news/global/locusts/reports1.htm