Western Region. Small-scale breeding was in progress during October in a few places of central and western Mauritania. An increasing number of solitarious adults appeared in the northwest where laying occurred during September giving rise to solitarious hoppers in October. Breeding occurred in northern Mali where there were unconfirmed reports of hopper bands in September and October as well as adults flying further north into southern Algeria. A survey in late October found only low densities of adults and hoppers. Nevertheless, some adults could move north into southern Algeria. Breeding was also reported on a smaller scale in Niger. Unusually good rains fell over southern Algeria that may cause vegetation to become green and provide a suitable habitat for any adults moving out of the summer breeding areas in Mali and Niger.

Central Region. Ground control operations treated 200 ha of hopper and adult groups on the coastal plains near Aden, Yemen. Adults that escaped control are likely to move to the Red Sea coastal plains of Yemen where isolated adults are present and breeding conditions are already favourable. There is a low possibility that some adults may reach Eritrea and northern Somalia. During the forecast period, small-scale breeding will commence along the Red Sea coast from Yemen to Jizan, Saudi Arabia. Although no adults have been reported so far on the coasts of Sudan or Eritrea, they are likely to appear in the coming weeks and breed on small scale if rainfall occurs.

Eastern Region. No locusts were reported in the summer breeding areas of India and Pakistan where vegetation was drying out because of a lack of rainfall. No significant developments are likely in the region.

In the Western Region, the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) oscillated between 15N and 20N during the first half of October and gradually retreated southwards, remaining well south of 15N during the last decade of the month where it remained around 10N. Consequently, only a few showers were reported in the Sahel of West Africa and vegetation was drying out. In Mauritania, good rains fell during the first decade of October in the southwest (Trarza) and in the southern parts of the two Hodhs. During the second decade, rainfall was limited to a few places in the extreme southwest of the country. Light rains also fell in Adrar near Atar early in the month. Conditions were favourable for breeding in the east near Oualata, in the centre near Agane and in a few places in the northwest in Inchiri. In Mali, good rains fell during the first decade in the northern Adrar des Iforas from Tessalit to the Algerian border where vegetation remains green in some spots. These rains extended northwards into southern Algeria from Bordj Bou Mokhtar (29 mm) to Tamanrasset (80 mm). Other rainfall occurred in Algeria over the central and northern Sahara during the same period. Conditions are still favourable for breeding in a few areas of northern Mali and are improving in parts of southern Algeria. In Niger, conditions are less favourable and limited to just a few areas in Tamesna and western Air because of a lack of rainfall. Elsewhere in the region, conditions were dry.

In the Central Region, only a few isolated showers were reported in the summer breeding areas in the interior of Sudan during October. Consequently, vegetation is starting to dry out in most places. Conditions are already favourable for breeding in some of the winter breeding areas along the Red Sea coast, primarily from Hodeidah, Yemen to Jizan, Saudi Arabia where additional rainfall, heavy at times, occurred during October. Good rains also fell on the coastal plains north of Jeddah at Yenbo (20 mm). In Eritrea, vegetation is green on the central coast near Shieb, Sheleshela and Wakiro. In Djibouti, green vegetation persisted along the northern coast from September rainfall. Conditions were dry and unfavourable along the southeastern coast of the Red Sea in Egypt because of lack of rainfall. Similarly, no rainfall was reported along the coast of Sudan. Conditions were becoming dry on the coastal plains near Aden, Yemen where only localized areas of green vegetation remain. Isolated showers were reported near Dire Dawa, Ethiopia and Burao, Somalia during the first half of October. In Oman, isolated showers fell during the first days of October in the northern interior.

In the Eastern Region, no significant rainfall was reported in the summer breeding areas along the Indo-Pakistan border during October. Consequently, vegetation was drying out in both areas.

During the first decade of October, isolated fledglings, immature and mature adults were present near Aioun El Atrous (1702N/0941W) and in a few places between Tidjikja (1829N/1131W) and Nouakchott. Small-scale breeding continued near Aioun El Atrous where a fifth instar hopper was seen and commenced near Moudjeria (1751N/1228W) where first instar hoppers were present.

From the second decade onwards, there was a shift in locust populations towards the west and northwest. An increasing number of mature adults were seen west of Moudjeria and there were new reports of mature adults, some copulating near Akjoujt (1945N/1421W) in southern Inchiri. Locust densities also increased, up to 200 adults per ha near Akjoujt. First to third instar hoppers were reported at two places near Akjoujt on the 17-18th, suggesting that laying occurred in September. Solitarious hoppers of all instars, including new hatchlings, were seen near Moudjeria up to the 30th. In the southeast, scattered immature adults persisted north of Aioun and, to a less extent, near Oualata (1715N/0655W).

During the first decade of October, there were unconfirmed reports from nomads and travelers of third and fourth instar hopper bands and adults at several locations in the Tilemsi Valley, Timetrine and in the Adrar des Iforas north of Aguelhoc (1927N/0052E). Some damage was reported by locusts and grasshoppers on natural vegetation and adults were said to be seen flying further north towards the Algerian border. A survey undertaken at the end of the month found adults at densities up to 300 per ha and hoppers at densities up to 2 per sq. metre at several places in the Tilemsi Valley.

Low numbers of first to third instar solitarious hoppers and mature adults at densities of 500-3,000 adults per ha were reported during the second decade of October at three places on the Talak plains northeast of Arlit near Agaliouk (1846N/0732E). Some adults were seen copulating.

No reports received.

No reports received.

No locusts were reported during October.

No locusts were reported during October.

A late report indicated that there were no locusts during September.

No reports received.

No locusts were seen during surveys carried out in Northern Kordofan between El Obeid (1311N/3010E) and Wadi Milk (1641N/2951E) on 27 September to 2 October except for isolated mature adults at two places northwest of El Obeid. Surveys in the winter breeding areas on the Red Sea coast will commence in early November.

A late report indicated that no locusts were seen during surveys carried out on the Red Sea coastal plains near Massawa (1537N/3928E) on 14-15 September.

No reports received.

No reports received.

No surveys were conducted and no locusts were reported during October.

No locusts were reported during October along the Red Sea coast or in the Western Desert.

No locusts were reported during October near Jeddah and Mecca. No reports were received of surveys elsewhere on the Red Sea coastal plains.

On the coastal plains northwest of Aden, small-scale breeding continued during October. Scattered solitarious and transiens third to fifth instar hoppers and groups of fledglings and immature adults were reported in crops at three locations near Am Mashrabah (1301N/4423E) and Dar Al-Gudaimi (1302N/4423E) at mid month. Densities were 20-30 hoppers per sq. m. and 6,000 adults per ha. Ground control operations treated 200 ha on 21 October. Another location was set aside for a field trial using the biocontrol agent Metarhizium.

No locusts were seen on the Red Sea coast between Zabid (1410N/4318E) and Suq Abs (1600N/4312E) during surveys carried out on 28 September to 2 October. Isolated mature adults were seen at two locations near Bayt Al Faqih (1430N4317E) during surveys conducted on 29-31 October from Zabid to the Saudi Arabian border.

No locusts were reported in the Dakhliya region during October.

No locusts were reported in Kerman and Hormozgan provinces on 13-14 October.

A late report indicated that isolated mature adults were present at three places in Tharparkar Desert, five places in Cholistan Desert and one place near Las Bela west of Karachi during the second half of September.

During the first half of October, locusts decreased in the summer breeding areas where only a few immature and mature adults were seen at three places in Cholistan. No locusts were reported during the last half of the month.

No locusts were seen during surveys carried out in the summer breeding areas of Rajasthan near Jodhpur and Bikaner during the second half of September and first half of October. No reports were received from Barmer or Jaisalmer.

No reports received.

Locust reporting. Affected countries are kindly reminded to make sure that all locust situation reports are sent to FAO HQ by the 28th 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 e-mail. After each survey or control operation, affected countries should send completed FAO Desert Locust Survey and Control Forms with a brief interpretation of the results by e-mail to eclo@fao.org.

Desert Locust Guidelines. The revised edition in English was issued on 24 September 2001 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: 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 (www.fao.org/news/global/locusts/pubslist.htm). New additions are:

Desert Locust research award. The FAO Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Central Region (CRC) is pleased to announce a cash award for outstanding research on Desert Locust. For more details, please contact the CRC Office in Cairo (munir.butrous@fao.org).

Master Trainer Course. Details and photos of a FAO training-of-trainers course on Desert Locust survey, control and training skills recently held in Oman are available at:

www.fao.org/NEWS/GLOBAL/locusts/OMNtot/totmain.htm

2002 events. The following are scheduled:

2003 events. The following are provisionally scheduled:

• EMPRES/CR. 11th Liaison Officers meeting, December