Intense swarm invasion of Kenya likely from mid-December onwards

Substantial breeding and large numbers of hopper bands continue to develop within a vast area of eastern Ethiopia and central Somalia where ground and aerial control operations are in progress. Immature swarms will start to form this week and increase during the remainder of December and into January.

From mid-December onwards, successive waves of immature swarms are expected to migrate south to southeastern Ethiopia and southern Somalia and invade northeast Kenya, spreading to northern and central counties. Intensive survey and control operations should be maintained in Ethiopia and Somalia while extreme vigilance and preparedness are required in Kenya.

A few small mature swarms from the previous generation in Somalia continue to arrive in northeast and east Kenya, including coastal areas near Lamu. Egg-laying has already taken place near the Tana River and is likely to occur elsewhere. Hopper bands are present in the northwest from local breeding.

Mature swarms are present in northeast Somalia where they are expected to lay eggs in areas that received heavy rains from cyclone Gati, giving rise the hatching and band formation before the end of December.

Breeding continues along both sides of the Red Sea in Sudan, Egypt, Eritrea, and Yemen, causing locust numbers to increase. Swarms are laying in northeast Sudan. Any swarms remaining on the central coast of Saudi Arabia are likely to mature and lay in areas of recent rainfall.

In southwest Asia, a few immature swarms from the Arabian Peninsula appeared last week on the southwest coast of Iran where they may mature and lay eggs in areas of recent rains.

In the Western Region, locusts have formed groups in western Mauritania, northern Niger, and southern Algeria and limited control was done.

website link:
http://desertlocust-crc.org/Pages/Bulletin.aspx?DomainId=58&lang=EN&DId=0&I=0&CId=0&CMSId=800347
pdf link:
http://desertlocust-crc.org/Download.ashx?File=App_Uploads/Bulletins/Files/201206113426DL506e.pdf