DESERT LOCUST WARNING! Swarms forming in the Sahel
Desert Locust swarms are present in Chad and should start forming shortly in Niger and Mali. The swarms are expected to move towards North-West Africa in the coming weeks. Although unusually favourable ecological conditions allowed two generations of breeding this summer, the rains have ended and vegetation is drying out. This will cause locusts to concentrate and group in those areas that are still green in the Sahel and form hopper bands and swarms during the remainder of October and in November.
In Chad, immature swarms are present in the northeast near Fada where control operations are underway. Hopper bands are forming there and in central areas of the country. In Niger, hoppers and adults are forming groups on the Tamesna Plains and in the Air Mountains; control teams have treated 870 ha so far this month. In Mali, the situation is less clear in the north due to the prevailing insecurity but it is likely to be similar to the current situation in Niger and Chad. In Mauritania, hoppers and adults are forming groups in the northwest near Akjoujt and in the centre near Tidjikja; control teams treated 250 ha during the past week.
Once the swarms form, they are expected to migrate north and west from Chad, Mali and Niger and arrive in western and central Libya, southern and central Algeria, and northwest Mauritania during the second half of October. Some swarms could reach western Algeria, southern Morocco and Western Sahara. The swarms will settle in areas that receive rainfall, mature and lay eggs in about December. There is also a risk that a few swarms could move towards cropping areas in central and western Mali.
All countries in the Region should be on high alert from now onwards. Algeria, Libya, Mauritania and Morocco should immediately take the necessary precautions to prepare for survey and control operations. In Chad, Mali and Niger, all efforts should continue to maintain and expand survey and control operations in the infested areas.
