Western Region. Locust numbers declined further in northern Mauritania where there has been no evidence of breeding to date due to a lack of rainfall and unfavourable conditions. A few locusts were reported to be surviving in localized patches of vegetation in northern Mali where conditions are not favourable for breeding. Although no locusts were reported in Morocco, Algeria and Libya, there is a slight possibility that a few isolated adults may be present in southern or central Algeria. Locust numbers will continue to decline during the forecast period.

Central Region. Scattered adults persisted in Egypt along the south-eastern coastal plains of the Red Sea but breeding has not been detected. No locusts were seen further south in Sudan or Eritrea where conditions are now dry. Isolated adults were seen in parts of northern Somalia. Good rains fell in coastal and interior areas of Yemen where low numbers of locusts are expected to be present and breeding but no surveys have been carried out since November. Regular surveys are strongly recommended in areas of recent rainfall. No locusts were reported in Saudi Arabia.

Eastern Region. Low numbers of solitarious adults were present in coastal areas of Baluchistan in western Pakistan from mid February onwards. Small scale breeding is expected to occur if rains fall during the forecast period. No locusts were reported in Iran or India.

In West Africa, no rainfall was reported and dry conditions prevailed for the fourth consecutive month. In Mauritania, prevailing winds were from the north and north-east, and temperatures were generally quite stable with minimum temperatures between 15-22°C and maximum between 23-35°C. Green vegetation was limited to a few very localized patches in wadis and drainage areas of the north. In northern Mali, daytime temperatures were starting to increase while night temperatures remained low. Conditions were generally dry except for localized patches of green vegetation in Timetrine and the Adrar des Iforas. The indications were that these would be enough to allow the survival of locusts but not for breeding.

In North-West Africa, dry conditions prevailed throughout the Region. No significant rainfall was reported during March except for some traces along the Atlantic coast of Morocco between Agadir and Sidi Ifni. Minimum and maximum temperatures in the central Sahara of Algeria were 16-20°C and 26-37°C respectively. Consequently, breeding conditions continued to be unfavourable in desert areas south of the Atlas Mountains in Morocco and Algeria. Similar conditions persisted in Libya except for some localized green vegetation in the north-west near Nalut.

In Eastern Africa, dry weather prevailed throughout the Region. Although clouds were present at times over the Red Sea coast of Sudan and Eritrea, no rainfall was reported and, consequently, vegetation is drying out along the coastal plains of both countries. In Northern Somalia, vegetation is generally dry along the coast except in some wadis that received run-off from isolated showers on the escarpment during the second week of March. Vegetation was also starting to become green in some places on the plateau near Hargeisa, Erigavo and Burao.

In the Near East, rains fell at times in parts of the Region. In Saudi Arabia, light rains fell on the northern Red Sea coast at Yenbo (12 mm) in early March. Good rains fell during the third week in the spring breeding areas of the interior near Hail (93 mm) and Qassim (121 mm) and light rains fell on the north-western edge of the Empty Quarter at W. Dawasser (9 mm) and Sharurah (7 mm). No significant rainfall was reported on the Red Sea coastal plains. In Yemen, light rains fell in a few places on the Red Sea coastal plains near Hodeidah. Widespread and heavy rains fell during the first half of March along the southern coastal plains east of Aden and in the interior between Ataq, Bayhan and Marib. In Egypt, small patches of dense vegetation and moist soil were present in a few areas along the south-eastern Red Sea coastal plains even though the last rains occurred in mid December.

In South-West Asia, dry conditions prevailed in the spring breeding areas of Baluchistan in western Pakistan and south-eastern Iran. No rainfall was reported except for light showers at Nokkundi and Dalbandin in north-western Baluchistan, Pakistan on the 11th.

No control operations were reported.

4. DESERT LOCUST SITUATION AND FORECAST

During the last dekad of February, a few isolated adults remained in previously infested areas south of Atar and individual mature adults were present at two locations near Zouerate (2244N1221W).

During the first two dekads of March, a few mature adults persisted at three locations near Zouerate. No locusts were seen during surveys in nearby areas or during the third dekad.

During March, a few immature adults were reported in Timetrine at Tirikfen (2042N/0002W) and Ifirdjane (2030N/0013W) and in the southern Adrar between Gao and Tabankort (1749N/0019E).

No reports received.

No reports received.

No reports received.

No locusts were reported during March.

No locusts were reported up to 23 March.

A single solitarious adult was seen south-west of Nalut (3141N/1053E) on 28 March.

No reports received.

No locusts were seen during surveys carried out in March on the Red Sea costal plains between Tokar Delta and Arbaat, north of Port Sudan.

No reports were received from the Red Sea coastal plains up to 26 March.

During March, a few mature adults were seen near the coast east of Berbera in Wadi Duudo (1033N/4530E) on the 5th and immature adults were present further west at Gargaara (1016N/4348E) on the 24th. Isolated immature adults were seen on the 30th at two locations in the hills and on the coast near Las Koreh (1110N/4812E). No locusts were seen elsewhere in coastal or interior areas of the north-west.

No reports received.

No surveys were carried out during March.

No locusts were reported during March on the Red Sea coastal plains or in the interior.

Although no locust surveys were conducted during March, there was an unconfirmed report of locusts on the southern coastal plains near Aden.

During March, isolated immature adults continued to be present in a few places along the Red Sea coastal plains between Abu Ramad (2224N/3624E) and Halaib (2212N/3635E) and in the adjacent subcoastal areas. No locusts were reported further north along the Red Sea coast or in the Western Desert.

No reports received.

No reports received.

No reports received.

No reports received.

During the second half of February, isolated maturing adults were reported at 10 locations in the spring breeding areas of Baluchistan between Pasni (2513N/6330E) and Panjgur (2658N/6406E), and near Las Bela (2612N/6620E).

During the first half of March, isolated and insignificant populations persisted in the above areas.

No locusts were reported during the second half of February and first half of March in Rajasthan and Gujarat.

No reports received.

Peru

In the northern part of Peru, about 50,000 to 75,000 ha were infested during March by gregarious hoppers of Schistocerca initerrita. Some mature adult populations were still present at densities varying from 500 to 15,000 adults/ha. The infested areas varied from some square-metres to thousands of hectares.

In the central part of the country, an outbreak of transiens populations of Schistocerca piceifrons peruviana has occurred again.

An outbreak of Malagasy Migratory Locust (Locusta migratoria capito) is again developing in the south-west of the country. February reports indicated that more than 40,000 ha were infested by transiens adult populations along the coastal plains in the south-west. Adults were maturing and more than 30% were copulating. Densities varied from 2,000 to 14,000 adults/ha. A total of 7,450 ha were treated during February.

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.

The Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in North-West Africa. The 23rd Session will be held in Algiers, Algeria from 2-7 June 2001.

Desert Locust Control Committee. The 36th Session will be held in Rome from 24-28 September 2001.

Pesticide Referee Group. The 9th meeting will be held during the last quarter of 2001. Results of any field trials recently undertaken on the efficiency and human/environmental safety of control agents used against locusts and grasshoppers should be submitted to the Locust Group for transmission to the PRG.