Western Region. No locusts were reported in the Region. Seasonal rains have started in the summer breeding areas of West Africa from south-eastern Mauritania to Tamesna, Niger. The rains that fell during June are thought to be sufficient for conditions to be favourable for breeding in most of these areas. As locust numbers are extremely low, it will take several generations before they build up to significant levels. This will depend on the continuation of rains during the summer in the breeding areas.

Central Region. A mixture of African Migratory Locust, grasshoppers and a few Desert Locusts were treated in agricultural areas in the Western Desert of Egypt during June. Elsewhere, good rains fell in the summer breeding areas of Sudan where conditions are becoming favourable. There is a slight possibility that locusts are present and breeding on a small scale in the interior of Yemen where heavy rains fell in May. In northern Somalia, breeding conditions remained favourable.

Eastern Region. Low numbers of solitarious adults appeared in the summer breeding areas of Pakistan near the Indian border during the second week of June which coincided with the arrival of the monsoon in Rajasthan, India and in adjacent desert areas in Pakistan. Breeding conditions are favourable earlier than usual this year due to pre-monsoon rains in May and the monsoon rains that fell during June. As a result, small scale breeding is expected to occur over a large area but it will take several generations before locust numbers increase to significant levels.

2. WEATHER & ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN JUNE 2001

In West Africa, the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) oscillated around 15°N over Mauritania and between 15-20°N over Mali and Niger during June. As a result, the first rains of the summer began in the southern Sahel. In Mauritania, light rainfall started during the second week in the two Hodhs, extending to parts of Brakna, Assaba and Tagant during the last week of June. Sufficient rainfall was received in the southern parts of the two Hodhs for conditions to become favourable for breeding. In Mali, limited cold cloud activity started during the first dekad over central Mali between Tombouctou and Gao, extending to the Adrar des Iforas at mid month. Enough rains probably fell to allow breeding near Gao and in parts of the Adrar des Iforas. In Niger, cold clouds started to be present over southern Tamesna during the first dekad, reaching parts of the Air towards the end of the month. Light rains were reported at Tahoua and Agadez, and conditions are expected to be favourable for breeding in southern Tamesna. In Chad, cold cloud activity started in Biltine during the third dekad.

In North-West Africa, hot and dry conditions prevailed throughout the region except for isolated light showers in a few places of central and southern Algeria where temperatures reached 47°C. Ecological conditions were not favourable for breeding.

In Eastern Africa, light rains continued to fall in the summer breeding areas of Sudan south of 15°N in Northern Kordofan and Northern Darfur where ecological conditions are expected to be improving. In the western lowlands of Eritrea, ecological conditions could start to improve in a few places as a result of run-off from the highlands where summer rains commenced during the last week of June. In Ethiopia, moderate rains fell at Dire Dawa during the last dekad of June while dry conditions persisted in the Ogaden. In Northern Somalia, light showers fell in a few places on the escarpment where conditions continued to remain favourable for breeding.

In the Near East, dry and hot conditions persisted throughout the Region. Only light rains fell in a few places in the interior of Saudi Arabia, in northern Oman, and on the southern coastal plains of the Red Sea in Yemen. Consequently, ecological conditions remained unfavourable for breeding in most areas with the possible exception of the interior in Yemen between Marib and Shabwah where heavy rains fell in May.

In South-West Asia, the monsoon reached Rajasthan, India during the second week of June bringing good rains to Phalodi (86 mm), Jodhpur (70 mm), and Shergarh (15 mm) while less rainfall was reported from Bikaner. Combined with the pre-monsoon showers in May, ecological conditions have become favourable for breeding earlier than usual over a large area of Rajasthan. In Pakistan, the monsoon arrived by mid June in the desert areas bordering India where Mirpurkhas reported 26 mm. Breeding conditions from Tharparkar to Cholistan are favourable earlier this year than in most due to monsoon rains as well as pre- monsoon showers during May.

3. AREA TREATED

Egypt 1,500 ha (mainly Migratory Locust and grasshoppers mixed with some Desert Locust)

No locusts were reported and no surveys were carried out in June.

No reports received.

No locusts were seen during an aerial survey of Tamesna on 24 May and during a ground survey in southern Tamesna on 8 June.

No reports received.

No reports received.

No locusts were reported during June.

No locusts were reported during June.

No reports received.

No reports received.

No locusts were reported and no surveys were carried out in June.

No reports received.

A few immature adults were seen south of Hargeisa at Bahadamal (0900N/4415E) on 30 May. No other locusts were seen during surveys carried out on the escarpment near Hargeisa and Borama on 27-31 May.

No reports received.

No reports received.

No locusts were reported during June in the interior and along the Red Sea coastal plains.

No locusts were reported and no surveys were carried out in June.

During June, isolated immature adults persisted at seven locations on the Red Sea coastal plains and subcoastal areas near Halaib. Control operations treated 1500 ha of hoppers and immature adults in crops at Sh. Oweinat (2240N/2845E) as well as at one farm in Bahariya Oasis at El Heiz (2802N/2838E). It is likely that the El Heiz infestations consisted primarily of grasshoppers while those at Sh. Oweinat were probably Migratory Locust and grasshoppers mixed with a few Desert Locust.

No reports received.

No locusts were reported and no surveys were carried out in June.

No reports received.

No reports received.

During the first half of June, low numbers of solitary adults moved from the spring breeding areas of Baluchistan east towards the summer breeding areas along the Indo-Pakistan border where immature adults were first reported on the 7th at Tamachi Tower (2804N/7133E). During the second week of the month, more adults were reported scattered throughout the summer breeding areas between Tharparkar and Cholistan at a total of 12 locations with densities of 1-5 per ha. In addition, isolated adults were present in the Las Bela area west of Karachi.

No locusts were reported during surveys carried out in Rajasthan from 23 May to 18 June.

No reports received.

Malagasy Migratory Locust (Locusta migratoria capito). Despite a late report confirming that the situation was under control at the end of May, scattered residual populations of solitarious and transiens degregans locusts still exist in some parts of the central and eastern regions of the outbreak area at densities of 50-500 locusts per ha. Laying during June may lead to an increase in locust numbers by the beginning of the next rainy season in November and further control operations could be required.

Red Locust (Nomadacris septemfasciata). At the end of May, adults were already in diapause in the south while, in the north where temperatures and humidity were higher, adults were not yet in diapause and were forming groups in the valleys. These groups represent a direct threat to cultivated areas.

The populations of these two locusts species will be carefully monitored during the upcoming dry season.

For the fourth consecutive year, an outbreak of Migratory Locust (Locusta migratoria migratoria) has developed in Xinjiang Region, western China. An outbreak of Tibetan locust (Locusta migratoria burmana) was reported in Tibet. Both outbreaks are said to have caused some damage to agricultural production. Grasshopper infestations were reported from 11 provinces in Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Heilongjiang, Qinghai and other areas of northern China. The highest densities were present in Yellow River, Huai River and Hai River valleys.

The Government has organized a control campaign, establishing a Grasshopper and Locust Prevention Office. Since early June, action has been taken to prevent crop damage. Over US$ 3 million has been allocated to support the campaign and more funds will be further mobilized.

A locust outbreak developed in northern Dagesthan during June in the flood plain of the Kuma River. An estimated 72,000 ha have been affected in Tarumsky district and an additional 260,000 ha are threatened in the Stravropol region. Most of the infestations consist of high numbers of hoppers. Ground and aerial control operations are in progress.

Two northern departments, Lambayeque and Cajamarca, continue to be infested by gregarious populations of Schistocerca interrita. The extension of the plague is particularly important in the latter area where primarily fifth instar hoppers, at densities up to 500 hoppers/m², fledglings and young adults were present in 14 districts of three provinces by the end of June. Damage by hopper bands was reported on maize, wheat and peas. Physical and chemical control, limited by the terrain, are in progress.

Compared to last year, the areas infested have progressed 60 km further east, and laying and hatching occurred two months earlier while hopper emergence was only 10 days earlier. This year's laying occurred at higher elevations, up to 1,200 m ASL, and in a wider range of habitats when compared to last year. FAO is providing TCP support to the national plant protection service.

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.

eLocust. Details of a new system under evaluation for recording and transmitting locust survey and control data collected in the field can be found on the internet at:

http://www.fao.org/news/2001/010601-e.htm

Upcoming meetings. The following meetings are scheduled:

• 36th session of the DLCC, 24-28 September 2001 (Rome) which coincides with the 50th anniversary of FAO's involvement in Desert Locust management
• 9th EMPRES Liaison Officers Meeting, 13-18 October 2001 (Khartoum)
• 4th EMPRES Consultative Committee Meeting, 15-17 January 2002 (Cairo)
• 23rd session of the FAO Commission for Desert Locust Control in the Central Region (CRC), 26-30 January 2002 (Damascus)

Pesticide Referee Group. As no submissions have been received, the 9th meeting is postponed to next year.

New appointments. We are pleased to announce the selection of Mr. Christian Pantenius as the new EMPRES Field Coordinator for the Central Region and Mr. Munir Boutrous as the new Secretary of the Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Central Region. Both of these persons will be based in Cairo.

Central Region Commission. The Government of Djibouti has confirmed their acceptance to become the 13th member of the Central Region Commission.

North-West Africa Commission. The report of the 23rd session recently held in Algers is available on the internet at:

http://www.fao.org/news/global/locusts/pdfs/meetings/CLCPANO23f.pdf