The Desert Locust situation remained serious during April in northern Sudan where hopper bands were present near crops along a 1,000 km strech of the Nile River. Swarms could form in May and threaten crops, and a second generation of breeding could take place before the summer or, if early rains fall, adults could move to the summer breeding areas in Sudan. There is also concern in Saudi Arabia where new generation adults could move from the northwest Penninsula, including Yemen, and breed in areas of recent heavy rains. In Northwestern Africa, breeding occurred south of the Atlas Mountains, causing locust numbers to increase and small hopper bands to form. As vegetation dries out, adults and perhaps a few groups and small swarms will move south towards the summer breeding areas in the northern Sahel where early rains have fallen so far in northern Niger.
