FAO DESERT LOCUST BULLETIN NO. 274
GENERAL SITUATION DURING JULY 2001
FORECAST UNTIL MID-SEPTEMBER 2001

1. SUMMARY

Western Region. Although no locusts were reported in the Region, low numbers of solitarious adults are likely to be present in breeding in areas in southern Mauritania, northern Mali, northwestern Niger and perhaps in eastern Chad where rains fell during July. Locust numbers are expected to increase gradually in these areas during the forecast period. Surveys are recommended during August to monitor the situation.

Central Region. Isolated adults are present in a few places of the summer breeding areas in the interior of Sudan where small scale breeding is expected to occur during the forecast period because of the good rains that fell in July. A few locusts may be present and breeding in the interior desert and perhaps on the Red Sea coastal plains of Yemen where good rains fell during July. A mixture of what is thought to be African Migratory Locust, grasshoppers and a few Desert Locusts persisted in agricultural areas in the Western Desert of Egypt where control was undertaken.

Eastern Region. Exceptionally good rains fell for the second consecutive month over most of the summer breeding area along both sides of the Indo-Pakistan border. So far, only insignificant numbers of adults have been detected in Pakistan while similar populations are also likely to be present in adjacent areas of Rajasthan, India. Numbers will increase gradually as a result of breeding during the forecast period.

In West Africa, the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) oscillated between 18-20°N over West Africa and at times reached as far north as 25°N bringing rain to central Mauritania, northern Mali and Niger. During July, seasonal rains began in many areas of southern Mauritania and by the end of the month most areas of the two Hodhs and southern Trarza had received enough rain to allow conditions to become favourable for locust breeding. Elsewhere, rains were irregular in parts of Brakna and Assaba and isolated showers fell at the end of the month in central (Tidjikja) and northern (Bir Moghrein) regions. In Mali, heavy rains were reported in the Adrar des Iforas on the 26th (Tessalit, 69 mm) and good rains fell further south to Gao. Good rains also fell along the Niger River to Tombouctou. Consequently, ecological conditions are improving and are expected to be favourable for breeding in these areas. In Niger, breeding conditions have become favourable in most of southern and central Tamesna and in parts of Air because of light to moderate rainfall during July. In northeastern Chad, conditions are expected to be improving in Ouaddai, Biltine and near Fada in BET where lights rain fell.

In North-West Africa, hot and dry conditions prevailed throughout the region and no significant rainfall was reported. Consequently, ecological conditions were not favourable for breeding.

In Eastern Africa, good rains continued to fall in the summer breeding areas of Sudan extending from the Chad border and Northern Darfur to Northern Kordofan and the Nile River. Heavy flooding was reported in the Kassala area. Consequently, breeding conditions are favourable in most of these areas. Elsewhere, light to moderate rains were reported near Dire Dawa, Ethiopia and in a few coastal and interior areas of northwestern Somalia. Conditions in these areas are less favourable than in Sudan.

In the Near East, mostly dry and hot conditions prevailed throughout the Region except in Yemen where light to moderate showers were reported in the Shabwah region of the interior and heavier rains fell on the Red Sea coastal plains. Breeding conditions are likely to be already favourable or improving in these areas. In Saudi Arabia, light rain was reported on the Red Sea coast at Jizan. In Oman, light rain fell in the northern interior where it is hot and dry, and misty conditions prevailed in the south at Salalah because of the monsoon.

In South-West Asia, unusually heavy and widespread rainfall associated with the monsoon fell for the second consecutive month over the entire summer breeding area along both sides of the Indo-Pakistan border. Consequently, breeding conditions are exceptionally favourable this year in both countries and should remain so for several months. Elsewhere, light to heavy rains fell in coastal and some interior areas of Baluchistan, western Pakistan.

3. AREA TREATED

Egypt 70 ha (mainly Migratory Locust and grasshoppers mixed with some Desert Locust)

4. DESERT LOCUST SITUATION AND FORECAST

No locusts were reported and no surveys were carried out during July.

No reports received.

No locusts were reported and no surveys were carried out up to 18 July.

No reports received.

No locusts were reported in the Senegal River Valley up to 31 July.

No reports received.

No reports received.

No locusts were reported during June and July.

No reports received.

A late report stated that isolated mature solitarious adults were present at two locations in the summer breeding areas of White Nile and Northern Kordofan provinces between Ed Dueim (1400N/3220E) and Umm Saiyala (1426N/3112E) on 28-29 June.

During July, no locusts were seen during surveys throughout most of Northern Kordofan except for isolated mature adults at one location near Sodiri (1423N/2906E) on the 19th.

No reports received.

No reports received.

No locusts were seen during surveys on 3-12 July in the eastern region.

No reports received.

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

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

During July, mixed infestations of grasshoppers, Migratory Locust and probably a few Desert Locusts persisted in cropping areas at Sh. Oweinat (2240N/2845E) where 30 ha were treated on the 20th. Elsewhere, isolated immature adults were reported in a few cropping areas along the shoreline of Lake Nasser.

No reports received.

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

No reports received.

No locusts were seen during surveys in Kerman and Hormozgan provinces in July.

During the second half of June, low numbers of mature solitarious adults, at densities of 1-6 per ha, were present at 18 locations scattered throughout the summer breeding areas between Tharparkar and Cholistan and two west of Karachi near Las Bela.

During the first half of July, the number of locations reporting locusts increased slightly to 21 along the Indo-Pakistan border and three at Las Bela. There was no significant change in locust densities.

No locusts were reported during surveys carried out in Rajasthan from 19 June to 17 July.

No reports received.

5. OTHER SPECIES

During July, gregarious populations of Schistocerca interrita persisted in the northern departments of Lambayeque and Cajamarca. Most of the infestations are affecting the three western provinces of Cajamarca. Hoppers have fledged and most of the resulting adults have formed groups that are moving towards the south where they should arrive shortly in the department of La Libertad.

6. 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 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)

Central Region Commission. Correction: The Government of Djibouti has confirmed their acceptance to become the 14th member of the Central Region Commission.