Western Region. Small-scale breeding ended in northwestern Mauritania in early December where only isolated mature adults remained by the end of the month. The unusually good rains that fell in late November should allow these adults to persist in Inchiri and perhaps in the extreme north but low temperatures will limit breeding and movement. Similarly, it appears that breeding has also finished in northern Mali where there were reports of hoppers in early December but, by the end of the month, only scattered adults were present. These are likely to persist in those few areas that remain green. Good rains fell along the southern side of the Atlas Mountains in Morocco and Algeria but cool temperatures will limit locust activity.

Central Region. Dry conditions prevailed in most of the winter breeding areas along the Red Sea coast due to poor rainfall for a second consecutive month. No locusts were reported in the region except for scattered adults in Tokar Delta, Sudan and a single adult on the Eritrean coast. Favourable breeding conditions are limited to a few areas, primarily the Tokar Delta and the surrounding coastal plains in Sudan and, to a lesser extent, parts of the coast of Yemen and Saudi Arabia. Low numbers of adults could appear during the forecast period in these areas as well as along the coasts of Eritrea and northern Somalia.

Eastern Region. Although light rains fell during December in parts of Baluchistan, western Pakistan, dry conditions prevailed in the region. Isolated adults were reported at one place in Rajasthan, India. No significant developments are expected.

In West Africa, no significant rainfall was reported in the region during December. In Mauritania, light rains fell in the northwest on the 4th at Akjoujt (1 mm) and Zouerate (3 mm) where vegetation remained green in some areas because of earlier rainfall in late November. In northern Mali, small patches of green vegetation persisted in a few wadis in the central Adrar des Iforas and in Timetrine. In Niger, dry vegetation was reported in the Air. Daily temperatures decreased during the month in all desert areas throughout the region. The cool temperatures will slow down the drying out of vegetation that is at present green.

In North-West Africa, rainfall associated with several eastward moving Mediterranean depressions occurred over the northern Sahara in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia at times during December. In Morocco, light to moderate rains fell in a few places south of the Atlas Mountains in Oued Draa and along the Atlantic coast on 9-24 December. For example, Sidi Ifni reported 39 mm, Ouarzazate 13 mm, and Tan-Tan 6 mm. Some of these rains extended to the northern parts of the Sahara in Algeria from Tindouf (8 mm) to Ghardaia (28 mm) and Ouargla (3 mm). Light rain fell at times in southern Tunisia. Maximum temperatures in the Algerian Sahara varied from 12-27°C while minimum temperatures were 2-11°C. Vegetation is dry in most areas except in Oued Draa where it is becoming green.

In Eastern Africa, unusually dry conditions prevailed throughout the Region. No significant rainfall was reported along the Red Sea coastal plains except for 15 mm at Port Sudan on 31 December. Consequently, conditions are not favourable for breeding in most areas except for the Tokar Delta in Sudan and to a lesser extent in a few wadis further north near Suakin. In northern Somalia, moderate rainfall was reported along the foothills near Berbera on 9 December and clouds were present over the coast but vegetation was dry in most areas.

In the Near East, isolated showers fell in parts of the region during December. In south-eastern Egypt, moderate to heavy rains fell at mid month on the Red Sea coastal plains and in subcoastal areas. In Saudi Arabia, moderate rains were reported on the central Red Sea coast at Jeddah (27 mm) and Mecca (47 mm) and light rains fell along the northern coast to Yenbo. Light rains also fell in a few places in the northern interior where low temperatures prevailed. In Yemen, green vegetation persisted in some of the main wadis on the Red Sea coast between Hodeidah and Suq Abs. In Oman, dry conditions prevailed in the north along the Batinah coast and in the interior.

In South-West Asia, light rain fell at times in northern Baluchistan, Pakistan during December. Nevertheless, dry conditions prevailed throughout the region.

No control operations were reported during December.

During the first week of December, breeding continued at three places west of Tidjikja (1829N1131W), and between Boutilimit (1740N/1446E) and Akjoujt (1945N/1421W) where there were individual hoppers of different instars. Low numbers of maturing adults were present throughout December in these areas as well as in Inchiri near Bennichab (1932N/1512W). By the end of the month, isolated mature adults were seen at only two locations during surveys near Boutilimit and in Inchiri, and no further breeding was detected.

On 1 December, third to fifth instar hoppers mixed with immature adults were seen within an area of 200 ha in Timetrine at Assamamal (1905N/0023W). Travellers and nomads reported similar populations during the first dekad of the month. On the 17th, a guide saw adults in northern Timetrine near Tadhak (2032N/0005W).

A late report indicated that fledglings and immature adults, at densities of up to 20 locusts per ha, were present at four locations in Tamesna on 29-30 November.

No locusts were seen during surveys in the Air on13-22 December.

No reports received.

No reports received.

No locusts were reported during December.

No locusts were reported from the south or southwest during December.

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

No locusts were reported during December.

Scattered mature adults at densities of 80-800 per ha were present in some cropping areas in Tokar Delta on the Red Sea coastal plains on 24-25 December. Copulating adults were reported at one of these places. No locusts were seen further north along the coast to Suakin during the month.

A late report indicated that no locusts were seen along the Red Sea coastal plains between Massawa (1537N/3928E) and Assab (1301N/4247E) during a survey carried out on 22-25 November.

In December, a single solitarious adult was seen on the 12th mixed with grasshoppers in crops on the Red Sea coast near Mersa Cuba (1616N/3911E).

No locusts were seen during surveys carried out on the northern escarpment between Hargeisa and Burao (0931N/4533E) on 9-11 December.

No locusts were seen during surveys northeast of Dire Dawa along the railway and near the Somali border on 19-22 December.

No reports received.

No reports received.

A late report indicated that no locusts were seen during surveys carried out on 12-17 November along the Red Sea coastal plains between Bayt Al Faqih (1430N/4317E) and the Saudi Arabian border.

No locusts were reported during December.

No locusts were reported from the Red Sea coastal plains or in the Western Desert during December.

No reports received.

No locusts were reported in Musandam and Batinah regions in northern Oman during December.

No reports received.

No reports received.

No locusts were reported during the second half of November and in December.

No locusts were reported during the first half of December. Isolated adults were reported at Bijawal (2554N/7024E) in Barmer district, Rajasthan on 18 December.

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.

Desert Locust Guidelines. The revised edition in English was issued on 24 September and is now available from FAO. Please contact the Locust Group for more information.

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

Publications on the Internet. A list of publications that can be downloaded from the FAO Locust webpages is now available (http://www.fao.org/news/global/locusts/pubslist.htm). New additions are:

• Report of the 36th session of the DLCC recently held in Rome (English and French; Arabic upon request)
• FAO Desert Locust Guidelines, revised edition, 2001 (English)
• FAO Spray Monitoring Form (English)

Upcoming meetings. The following meetings are scheduled:

• 4th EMPRES Consultative Committee Meeting, 15-17 January 2002 (Cairo)
• Contingency Planning Workshop (EMPRES), 13-21 February 2002 (Egypt)
• 23rd session of the FAO Commission for Desert Locust Control in the Central Region (CRC), 9-14 March 2002 (Damascus). Djibouti has applied for membership. Eritrea and Ethiopia will participate as observers.