Intensive desert locust survey and control operations are in progress where 140,255 ha area had been surveyed across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of which 15,475 ha area has been treated so far during Jan. 1-15.
The Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has strengthened efforts to combat desert locust swarms in the Kingdom which are a threat to the food security.
The Ministry has formed 76 locust control teams and 18 survey teams to carry out ground and aerial control operations in the coastline of southwestern Saudi Arabia, from Makkah to Jizan regions.
Hopper bands cluster at high densities in previously infested areas, from Qunfutha to the governorates of the northern Jizan, as they have been consistently invaded by locust during the end of the past calendar year, Ministry said.
The Ministry added that infestation was reported in Jizan and areas near the Saudi-Yemeni borders since the summer season, which result in forming locust bands in large areas and at high densities.
Control and survey teams were distributed in different regions of the Kingdom where 55 of which were assigned in Makkah, where 11 teams were in AlBaha, 11 in Asir, 12 in Jizan, and 5 in Hail, and that the total number of reports received from these teams were 780 since the beginning of the current month, according to the Ministry.
The Ministry said that it has also doubled up the number of ground control teams, used drones for aerial spraying and provided full logistics support including equipped camps, fuel, and control supplies as parts of the Ministry's efforts to eradicate locusts and prevent the spread.
Despite the intensive locust control operations, the process of moulting from last instar is expected to increase within the next few weeks. And there is a high probability that the locust swarms coming from the neighboring countries will invade the Kingdom due to the recent developments, said the Ministry.
Certain conditions in the future will likely allow the maturation of desert locusts found in the central region of the Kingdom, as well as the copulation of locust which may be observed by spring. These forecasts are influenced by environmental changes such as rainy conditions which are expected in the coming days, Ministry said.