Locust
Desert Locust situation update 2 July 2010
Legend: 
adults groups 
swarms 
hoppers 
bands
2 July. Ecological conditions improving in the summer breeding areas
The Desert Locust situation continues to remain calm in all countries. Ground control operations were undertaken last month against low numbers of locusts in Morocco and Algeria, and against small hopper bands in the interior of Saudi Arabia. Consequently, locust numbers have declined in these areas.
Currently, scattered mature adults are present in crops along the Nile in northern Sudan, isolated adults are present in the interior of Egypt, Yemen and Oman, and small-scale breeding is underway in eastern Ethiopia.
Low numbers of solitarious adults are expected to move south from the spring breeding areas in Northwest Africa to the summer breeding areas in the northern Sahel of West Africa. Seasonal rains commenced last month in southern Mauritania, northern Mali and Niger, eastern Chad and in central Sudan. Ecological conditions have become favourable for small-scale breeding to take place during July and August, which will cause locust numbers to increase but they should remain below threatening levels.
Breeding conditions are expected to be unusually favourable for the next few months in northern Oman, along the coast of Pakistan, and on both sides of the Indo-Pakistan border where heavy rains fell in early June from Cyclone Phet.
Consequently, ground surveys should be carried out on a regular basis during the coming months in all summer breeding areas to monitor changes in the habitat and locust populations.
Source: FAO Desert Locust Information Service Copyright: © FAO, 2004