Latest Report on Desert Locust Situation

enekesa — Fri, 13 Mar 2020 05:27:57 +0000

In latest reports released on March 10, 2020 by FAO the desert locust situation in Kenya is widespread swarm breeding continues in northern and central counties where an increasing number of hopper bands and first-generation immature swarms are forming. This may be supplemented by new-generation immature swarms arriving from Somalia. Further concentration is expected in Marsabit and Turkana. Aerial and ground control operations continue.

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.

In Ethiopia, breeding continues within a widespread area of Oromiya and SNNPR regions, including the Rift Valley, where early instar hopper bands are forming in some places. Immature swarms are present in the south where cross-border movements are likely from adjacent areas of Somalia and Kenya. Aerial and ground control operations continue.

In Somalia, late instar hopper bands, maturing adult groups and at least one mature swarm on the northwest coast where egg-laying continues. Ground control operations underway with bio pesticides.

Sudan-late instar hopper band, fledglings and immature adult group and swarm on the southern coast of the Red Sea near the Eritrea border. Scattered adults in Tokar Delta, the northeast and in the Nile Valley.

While in Eritrea, immature adult groups on the northern coast of the Red Sea near the Sudan border. Hopper groups on the Buri Peninsula.

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Experts demystify raging issues on Locust invasion

enekesa — Wed, 19 Feb 2020 12:50:40 +0000

“Yellow colour is an indication of maturity but not dying locust. However, at the later age the yellow colouring becomes very bright and the locusts will start copulating and laying eggs and at this stage we can say that they are dying. And unless one is following a swarm from the immature stage up to maturity no one can tell when the first egg laying has occurred, ” corrected Dr. George Ong’amo, an entomologist from 91��.

Speaking to the Corporate Affairs team, 91��, Dr. Ong’amo clarified, “The length of maturity depends on how well the immature stage fed and the weather conditions. If they are well fed the length of maturation is 2-4 weeks. After this, copulation will start and the female lay eggs 3 times at interval of 7-10 days. Therefore, depending on weather conditions, the life span of the mature stage is 35-50 days.”

At the same time, mature stage is not a feeding stage. They just move from one location to another to assess suitable breeding ground with little feeding for survival but not to accumulate energy. Therefore, they are not voracious like the immature ones and they don’t cause much harm to vegetation.

At mature stage, one swarm doesn't move together but it splits into several swarmlets; flying to different locations and this is what we are observing currently and receiving several reports of swarms from different corners.

“Exposed eggs are doomed! He called on all the counties experiencing the invasion to assist in exposing where the locusts lay eggs so that they can be sprayed,” he concluded.

Dr. George Ong’amo explained that grasshoppers also band but unlike desert locust they do not swarm and are not destructive.

Locust invasion, locust, kenya, 91��

91���� - kenya

Latest Report on Desert Locust Situation

Experts demystify raging issues on Locust invasion

91�� - kenya