Locust plague update: More swarms continue to form in the Horn of Africa; We’re looking at an insect that multiplies 20-fold with each new generation every three months

Severe rains and cyclones are ideal conditions for locust breeding. As climate change is making extreme weather more common, preventing locusts from becoming swarms is increasingly important. @FAO/Sven Torfinn

Most of the countries below have been or is suffering record rainfall which is helping the locusts breed in unprecedented numbers.

It is the same species of locust God used against the Egyptians in the epic Bible Book of Exodus. The Desert Locust (Schistocerca gregaria),  and they are the most destructive migratory pest in the world. The massive Plague of locusts is set to descend upon the Middle East in time for Passover, however, the swarms are expecting to miss the Holy Land. 

More swarms continue to form in the Horn of Africa The situation remains extremely alarming in the Horn of Africa, specifically Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia where widespread breeding is in progress and new swarms are starting to form, representing an unprecedented threat to food security and livelihoods at the beginning of the upcoming cropping season. KENYA. More first-generation immature swarms are forming throughout northern and central counties and are maturing. Some will be ready to lay eggs from next week and continue to May. Further concentration expected in Marsabit and Turkana. Aerial and ground control operations continue. ETHIOPIA. Hopper bands in Oromiya and SNNPR regions, including the Rift Valley, and an increasing number of the new generation of immature swarms that are maturing. Aerial and ground control operations continue. SOMALIA. Breeding continues in central areas. SOUTH SUDAN. A few mature swarms from the south appeared in the southeast near Torit. DJIBOUTI. Hopper bands and immature swarms on the coast between Tadjourah and Obock. YEMEN. More hopper bands and immature adult groups on the southern coast near Aden. IRAN. Hopper groups forming on the southern coast. More hatching expected in southern Khuzestan, Busherh, southern Fars. Immature adult groups and small swarms will start forming shortly but should stay in place to mature and breed again in May. Ground control operations continue. The situation is under control in the following countries: ERITREA. Control operations against hopper and adult groups on the central coast. OMAN. Control operations against hopper groups on north coast and interior with new hatching on the coast. IRAQ. Control operations continue against mature swarms in the southeast. PAKISTAN. More hopper groups form from Baluchistan breeding and immature adults start to form groups. Group of adults laying in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Hopper groups in Dera Bugti district (north of Sukkur). Control operations underway. FAO 2020 Locust Plague Front Page Headlines