Good rains fall in summer breeding areas
During the first decade of August, unusually heavy rains fell in the summer breeding areas of Sudan, causing widespread flooding and destruction in North Darfur, North Kordofan, Khartoum, River Nile and Kassala states. Rainfall was heaviest in the central part of the Desert Locust breeding area (North Kordofan and Khartoum). More rain is expected in the coming days. Once floodwaters recede, ecological conditions are likely to remain favourable for breeding for several months. Currently, low numbers of solitarious adults are scattered throughout the above-mentioned areas. Small-scale breeding is likely to be in progress and will cause locust numbers to increase.
In West Africa, good rains also fell in parts of the summer breeding areas in the northern Sahel. Heavy rains fell on the Tamesna Plains between Menaka, Mali and Tahoua, Niger. Heavy rains also fell in Mauritania near Aioun El Atrous, Kiffa and Atar, and in northeast Chad between Abeche and Fada. Low numbers of solitarious adults have been reported in Mauritania, Niger and Chad, and are likely to be present in northeast Mali.
Given the likelihood of an increase in locust infestations from summer breeding, national ground surveys should be undertaken in all countries on a regular basis to monitor the situation closely during the next few months.