Countries: Algeria, Afghanistan, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Liberia, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Spain, Sudan, Togo, Tunisia, Yemen Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Please refer to the attached file. In May, Several hopper groups and a few hopper bands were found over widespread areas in Morocco, where numerous immature adult groups formed. A few mature adult groups were also observed along the Draa Valley. In Algeria, a few immature adult groups were found, together with scattered hoppers and hopper groups. No locusts were reported in the Central and Eastern Regions. During the forecast period, the remaining hopper groups and bands are expected to fledge, leading to the formation of more adult groups and small swarms in Morocco. Maturation of the adult groups will continue and breeding is likely to occur in the remaining suitable areas of Morocco and Algeria. Some of the mature adults may migrate towards the Oriental region and western Algeria, where spring breeding could continue in June, but most groups may move southwards into Mauritania or other Sahelian countries. Small-scale spring breeding may conclude in western Libya and central and eastern Algeria, leading to the southward movement of solitarious populations. Surveys and control operations will need to continue at high intensity in affected areas, and surveys should commence in Sahelian countries. In the Central and Eastern Regions, small-scale spring breeding will finish in a few interior areas of Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Yemen, as well as in southern Iran and southwestern Pakistan. Solitarious population may go unoticed and move to typical summer breeding areas by early July; however, no significant developments are expected. KEY POINTS Overview...
