Western Region. Scattered solitarious adults were reported in a few places of northwestern Mauritania and at one location in Niger during January. Extremely unusual and unprecedented heavy rainfall occurred over western Mauritania on 9-11 January. While the significance of this event is not entirely clear, it should allow any locusts that are present to survive and breed during the forecast period. Surveys are recommended to detect any increase in locust numbers. There was also a report of hoppers and adults in northern Mali. Further details are awaited. No locust are dry conditions prevailed elsewhere in the Region.

Central Region. Scattered adults were reported in Tokar Delta on the Red Sea coastal plains Sudan and one adult was seen on the Eritrean plains during January because of prevailing dry conditions. This suggests very little winter breeding has been detected so far this year on both sides of the Red Sea even though good rains have fallen along the eastern shore in Saudi Arabia and Yemen. No locusts were reported elsewhere in the Region.

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, unprecedented rains fell over a large area of western Mauritania on 9-11 January from Rosso and Kiffa to Tidjikja, Atar and Ouadane. The rainfall was heaviest in the southwest where Boutilimit reported 60 mm, R'Kiz 59 mm and Moudjeria 47 mm. It was lighter in the north where 13 mm fell in Akjoujt, 11 mm in Ouadane and 6 mm in Tidjikja. Long-term average rainfall for these stations in January is from 0-2 mm. Green vegetation was present in parts of Inchiri and southern Adrar to Zouerate and Guelb er Richat. In Mali, traces of rain fell in the Adrar des Iforas near Aguelhok on 11 and 20 January. Green vegetation was present further west in Timetrine. In Niger, small patches of green vegetation persisted in a few interdunal areas in Tamesna.

In North-West Africa, dry conditions prevailed in most of the Desert Locust areas. In Morocco, green vegetation was present in places along Oued Draa and the Atlantic coast that received rainfall in December, and to a limited extent in a few spots of the extreme south and southwest where only light rains have occurred. Light rain fell at Dakhla on 6 January. In Algeria, no rainfall was reported and low temperatures prevailed in desert areas. Consequently, breeding conditions were not favourable.

In Eastern Africa, mostly dry conditions were reported in the Region. In Sudan, unusually dry conditions prevailed on the Red Sea coastal plains between Tokar Delta and Port Sudan although the latter received 17 mm on the 17th. In Tokar Delta, crops and natural vegetation were green. In Eritrea, moderate rainfall was reported on the Akbanazouf Plain on the Red Sea coast during the first week of January. In Djibouti, vegetation was becoming green in a few limited areas along the coastal plains east of Djibouti and on the northern coast between Obock and the Eritrean border. Dry conditions persisted in the interior of the country. In northern Somalia, light rain fell in the interior during the first week of January and on the coast at Berbera at mid month.

In the Near East, rainfall was reported along the Red Sea coast where breeding conditions remained favourable. In Saudi Arabia, light to moderate rains fell at times during the month on the southern Red Sea coastal plains at Jizan, light rains fell along the central and northern coast from Jeddah to Wejh and good rains fell in the interior where temperatures remained low. Light rains fell along the Red Sea coast of Yemen on 16 January and again on the 24th when it was heaviest in the north. Breeding conditions continued to remain favourable along the coast for several months in a row. Although light rains fell along parts of the Gulf of Aden coast east of Aden on the 17th, vegetation was reported to be dry. Dry conditions prevailed in Oman.

In South-West Asia, moderate rains fell in parts of the spring breeding areas of western Pakistan. Turbat received 26 mm and Jiwani 50 mm during the first half of January. Nevertheless, dry conditions prevailed throughout the region.

No control operations were reported during January.

During January, isolated immature and mature adults were present at a few places between the Inchiri coast and Chinguetti (2025N/1224W). One fifth instar hopper was seen east of Akjoujt (1945N/1421W) on the 9th. By the end of the month, a few locusts were seen further north near the El Khatt region of southwestern Tiris Zemmour.

During January, there was a report of hoppers and immature and mature adults persisting in some wadis of Timetrine at Assamamal (1906N/0024W), Dardar (1913N/0003W) and Assikad (1924N/0001W) where locusts were seen in December. It was not clear if some of these populations contained gregarious locusts. Further details are awaited.

Scattered immature and mature adults, at densities of 20-40 adults per ha, were seen at one location northwest of Agadez at 1843N/0721E on 27 January. No locusts were seen elsewhere in the Tamesna during January.

No reports received.

No reports received.

No locusts were reported during January.

No locusts were reported from the south or southeast during January.

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

No locusts were reported during January.

Scattered immature and mature adults at densities up to 500 adults per ha and mixed with African Migratory Locust were present at five locations in Tokar Delta on 19 January. No locusts were seen on the coastal plains from Tokar Delta to Port Sudan on the 21st.

A late report indicated that a single Desert Locust was seen mixed with African Migratory Locusts on the Red Sea coast at Shirumkelib (1742N/3823E) on 31 December.

In January, there was a report of scattered Desert Locust on the Akbanazouf Plains (1557N/3912E) on the Red Sea coast on 10 January.

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

No reports received.

No locusts were seen during surveys carried out along the coastal plains and in the interior on 24-29 January.

No locusts were reported during January.

No locusts were seen along the Gulf of Aden coast from Aden (1250N/4503E) to Ahwar (1333N/4644E) on 19-20 January. No locust reports were received from the Red Sea coastal plains.

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

No reports received.

No locusts were reported in Dakhiliya and Batinah regions in northern Oman during January.

No reports received.

No reports received.

No locusts were reported during the first half of January.

No locusts were reported during the first half of January.

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 23rd session of the NW Africa Commission (CLCPANO) in French and Arabic
• 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)

New locust publication. A new publication in French by Jean Roy, Histoire d'un siècle de lutte anti-acridienne en afrique, is available. Please contact the Locust Group for more information.

Upcoming events. The following are scheduled:

• 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.