Desert Locust Outbreaks Persist Across Northwestern Africa and Eritrea

Desert Locust outbreaks persist in Northwestern Africa, notably in Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya. While locust populations declined along the Red Sea, reports indicate ongoing breeding in Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Increased control measures have been implemented, addressing a larger area than previously. Forecasts predict continued breeding and potential migration towards the Sahel in June.

The latest Desert Locust Bulletin reports ongoing locust outbreaks in the Western Region of Eritrea and Northwestern Africa. Notably, there has been a marked increase in adult locust groups, with small swarms traversing the Sahara, particularly between Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya. Additional groups were spotted in Morocco, northern Chad, and Niger, signaling a potential spread of these pests.

In the Central Region, there is a decline in locust populations along the Red Sea’s banks. However, southern Egypt and northern Sudan still exhibit a presence of adult groups and swarms. Some hopper groups and bands are forming in these areas, with continued laying observed in parts of Saudi Arabia—a sign that breeding activities are still ongoing.

The forecast anticipates that spring breeding will continue in countries such as Algeria, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia. This is likely to result in new adult groups and small swarms forming throughout May. Migration patterns are expected to shift south towards the Sahel with the onset of anticipated rainfall come June. In both northern Sudan and southern Egypt, localized spring breeding may persist along the Nile Valley, which may lead to the emergence of new adult groups heading south to summer breeding areas in June.

Limited spring breeding is also forecasted to occur in Saudi Arabia’s interior. New adult groups originating from these breeding activities are expected to appear by early June. Control operations to mitigate these locust populations will remain crucial across all affected regions as recently, efforts have ramped up significantly; they doubled in April, addressing over 34,000 hectares, compared to about 18,000 hectares in March.

In conclusion, while the situation remains precarious with increasing locust populations across various countries, control operations are essential and have intensified to manage outbreaks. Observations of breeding and group formation suggest that vigilance will be needed in the upcoming weeks, particularly as climatic conditions could facilitate further migration and breeding activities.

The Desert Locust outbreaks continue to pose a threat in the southern Sahara and Northwestern Africa. The situation is characterized by breeding and locust group formation mostly in Algeria, Libya, and Tunisia, while some areas like Sudan and Egypt are experiencing lesser but crucial breeding activities. Control measures have become increasingly urgent, particularly as forecasts indicate further migrations and breeding in the coming weeks. Thus, ongoing management will be critical to mitigate the potential impacts of these swarms on agriculture and local communities.

Original Source: reliefweb.int