1. SUMMARY

Despite good rainfall and favourable breeding conditions in some of the summer breeding areas, the Desert Locust situation continued to remain calm during September. Only low numbers of solitarious adults and small scale breeding were reported in Mauritania. Isolated adults were present in northern Somalia and along the Indo-Pakistan border. During the forecast period, vegetation will start to dry up and, in a few places, adults could become concentrated as they start to shift from summer to winter breeding areas. This movement is expected to be on a very small scale this year.

Western Region. Small scale breeding is in progress in southern and central Mauritania where locust numbers are expected to increase slightly as breeding continues during October. Once vegetation starts to dry out, adults are likely to move on a small scale towards northern Mauritania. In north-western Algeria, late reports stated that 5 ha of hopper and adult groups were treated at the end of August. This may have been related to similar populations that were treated in adjacent areas of Morocco in early August (see Bulletin 263). Elsewhere, no significant developments are likely.

Central Region. Although no locusts were seen during surveys in the summer breeding areas of Sudan, conditions remained favourable over a large area and there is a possibility that low numbers are present and breeding in a few places. Adults are likely to start moving east towards the winter breeding areas along the Red Sea coastal plains but the scale of this movement is estimated to be insignificant. Low numbers of adults were present in north-western Somalia. No locusts were reported from eastern Ethiopia. Good rains fell along the southern Red Sea coastal plains of Saudi Arabia and Yemen where low numbers of locusts may be present or could appear in the coming weeks and start to breed on a small scale. Ground control operations treated 3211 ha of mature adults and hopper groups in a few oases in southern Egypt but it is not clear what species was involved.

Eastern Region. Only low numbers of solitarious adults were reported in the summer breeding areas of Pakistan along the border with India. Numbers declined by the end of September as a result of increasingly dry conditions. No locusts were reported in India. Very few locusts are expected to move towards the spring breeding areas of western Pakistan this year.

In West Africa, the ITCZ fluctuated between 15-20N during the month. Good rains fell over most of southern, central and western Mauritania throughout the month (see map). Green vegetation was present and conditions were favourable for breeding in Brakna (north and west of Moudjeria), in south-western Tagant (south of Tidjikja), in Inchiri (south and west of Akjoujt). In Mali, light rains fell in the Adrar des Iforas and near Tombouctou where vegetation was green in most wadis but started to dry out during the second half of the month. Vegetation was dry or becoming dry and conditions were generally unfavourable for breeding in Tamesna and Air, Niger and in Chad.

In North-West Africa, only light rains were reported from a few places in northern Algeria and Tunisia as well as in the southern Hoggar Mountains of southern Algeria. Vegetation remained dry and conditions were generally unfavourable for breeding.

In Eastern Africa, moderate to locally heavy rains were reported in the northern Sahelian belt of Sudan where seasonal vegetation was green and conditions were favourable for breeding over large areas of Northern Kordofan and Northern Darfur up to about 15N as well as along parts of the Atbara River and between Kassala and Derudeb. Green vegetation was also present in the western lowlands of Eritrea in Khor Baraka. On the Red Sea coast, vegetation was becoming green in a few areas near Sheib, Shelshela and Foro where rains fell. No rainfall was reported on the northern coastal plains of Somalia. Elsewhere, conditions were dry except for some localized green vegetation from Harer in eastern Ethiopia to Hargeisa in north-western Somalia where good rains had fallen.

In the Near East, moderate rains fell on several different days during the month on the southern Red Sea coastal plains from Jizan, Saudi Arabia to Zabid, Yemen. Vegetation is greening in the Jizan area and in most of the major wadis along the Yemeni plains. Showers were also reported on the coastal plains near Aden and in the interior near Shabwa. Conditions are expected to be favourable for breeding in most of these areas.

In South-West Asia, conditions were dry in the summer breeding areas of Pakistan and India where no rain was reported and most vegetation was dry or drying out. Breeding conditions were unfavourable.

Egypt 3211 ha (24 September)

Algeria 5 ha (End of August)

Low numbers of immature and mature adults were present during September in parts of Trarza, Brakna, Tagant, and the two Hodhs. During the first dekad of the month, solitarious locusts were mostly found near Nema (1636N/0715W), Aioun el Atrous (1700N/0940W), and between Moudjeria (1750N/1250W) and Akjoujt (1945N/1421W). During the second and third dekads, adults were more dispersed and scattered over a large area between Aioun, Tidjikja and Akjoujt. Small scale breeding was in progress north of Moudjeria where laying was seen and a few first to fourth instar hoppers were reported during the month.

No reports received.

No locusts were reported during the first two dekads of September.

No reports received.

No reports received.

A late report indicated that 5 ha were treated in the end of August against groups of adults and hoppers south of Bechar at Abadla (3101N/0244W). These may have been related to similar populations reported in adjacent areas of Morocco in early August (see Bulletin 263). There was an unconfirmed report from nomads of adults mixed with hoppers in Oued Tamanrasset (ca. 2200N/0100E) during the second half of August which suggests that isolated summer breeding may have occurred in parts of the south. No locusts were reported during September.

No locusts were reported in the South and South-East of the country during September.

No locusts were reported during September.

No reports received.

No locusts were seen during surveys in Northern Kordofan during September.

No locusts were seen during surveys along the Red Sea Coast and its hinterlands during September.

A few immature adults were seen north-east of Hargeisa at Bildhaley (1007N/4412E) and Faruur (1007N/4427E) during surveys carried out from 29 August to 2 September on the northwest plateau.

Although ecological conditions were found to be favourable, no locusts were seen east of Dire Dawa on 16-20 September.

No reports received.

No reports received.

No surveys were conducted on the Red Sea coastal plains in September due to an outbreak of Rift Valley Fever.

On 24 September, transiens adults and dense first to fifth instar hopper groups were treated by ground-spraying in cultivated areas of a few oases in the Western Desert in the extreme south: 3169 ha at Sh. Oweinat (2240N/2845E) and 42 ha at Tushka (2228N/3158E to 2230N/3140E). It is unclear what species was involved. Confirmation is awaited.

No reports received.

No reports received.

No reports received.

No locusts were seen during surveys carried out in coastal areas of Hormozgan Province near Jask (2540N/5746E) on 30 September.

During the month of September, isolated mature adults at densities of up to six locusts per ha were reported at 36 places in Cholistan and Tharparkar deserts near the border with India. Lower numbers were present in Lasbela, west of Karachi.

No locusts were reported during the first fortnight of September.

No reports received.

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 Desert Locust Survey and Control Forms with a brief interpretation of the results by email to eclo@fao.org.

EMPRES (Desert Locust) Central Region Programme. Three events have been arranged in next few months. The 8^th EMPRES Liaison Officers meeting will be held in Muscat, Oman from 22-26 October. A Research Workshop will be held in Cairo, Egypt from 6-8 November. The 3^rd EMPRES Consultative Committee will be held in Rome from 4-5 December.