In July 2026, desert locusts mainly affected localized areas in central-southern and southwestern Morocco, northwestern and central Algeria, and southern Mauritania, affecting 85.6, 27.0, and 15.6 thousand hectares of vegetation, respectively. This month, the affected vegetation areas in Morocco and Algeria both declined from June, while the center of locust activity showed a transition from the spring breeding areas of Northwest Africa toward the summer breeding areas of the Sahel. Spring breeding in Morocco had entered its final stage; earlier hopper groups had largely fledged, and gregarious, transiens, and solitarious populations all decreased markedly. As temperatures rose, vegetation declined, and large-scale control operations were implemented in June, available food resources and habitat patches for adults continued to contract. Some individuals temporarily concentrated in the remaining green patches, and a small number of mature adults may migrate eastward or southward under favorable winds; however, the capacity of the original breeding areas to continue replenishing new populations weakened substantially. In Algeria, activity was mainly localized and involved solitarious adults and a few hoppers. With the end of spring breeding, drying vegetation, and fragmentation of suitable habitats, both population density and the extent of damage declined overall. Influxes from nearby source populations and residual green vegetation in oases and shrub patches could still support localized resting and feeding, resulting in relative concentrations in a few areas, but conditions were not sufficient for broad continuous dispersal or gregarization. In southern Mauritania, the number of solitarious adults and the area of affected grassland increased, possibly because localized rainfall associated with the northward shift of the seasonal rain belt improved soil moisture and vegetation greening, while adults migrating southward from northern areas also have replenished local populations. Suitable patches remained constrained by the uneven spatial and temporal distribution of rainfall, and locust conditions were still dominated by low-density, scattered occurrences. If wet conditions persist, adult maturation, oviposition, and egg hatching may receive sustained environmental support, and summer breeding may gradually become established.

In June 2026, desert locusts mainly affected the central-southwestern regions of Morocco, localized western and central areas of Algeria, and southern Mauritania, affecting 104.2, 30.3, and 13.6 thousand hectares of vegetation, respectively. This month, the affected vegetation areas in Morocco and Algeria both increased compared with the previous month, while localized damage was also detected in southern Mauritania. Overall, gregarious spring breeding in Morocco gradually entered its final stage; hopper groups continued to fledge, forming numerous immature adult groups, and some adults dispersed eastward and southward. In Algeria and Mauritania, locust activity was dominated by low-density scattered populations, with localized groups. As green vegetation established earlier in Morocco gradually dried out, available food resources and habitat patches became increasingly fragmented, raising the likelihood of adult concentration and dispersal among the remaining green patches. Some mature adults may disperse eastward and southward along desert margins and scattered suitable habitat patches and, under favorable wind conditions, reach adjacent suitable areas. Algeria remained dominated by scattered hoppers and adults, with a few immature adult groups. Localized population activity may have been supported by nearby source replenishment and remnant vegetation in oases and along desert margins. As spring breeding approaches its end, vegetation dries, and suitable habitats contract, some populations may disperse among the remaining green patches, with their activity range potentially extending toward inland and more southerly suitable areas. In southern Mauritania, activity was dominated by scattered adults. Localized rainfall in some areas improved near-surface soil moisture and grassland growth conditions, increasing local habitat suitability for adult resting, feeding, and potential breeding. However, suitable habitats remained generally patchy, and subsequent population changes will largely depend on the spatial and temporal distribution of rainfall and the persistence of vegetation. 

In May 2026, desert locusts mainly distributed the central-southwestern regions of Morocco, localized northwestern and central areas of Algeria, and the southern inland areas of Yemen, affecting 88.3, 25.1, and 16.6 thousand hectares of vegetation, respectively. In Morocco, spring breeding entered its late stage. Previous wet conditions promoted sustained vegetation greening in central-southwestern areas, while more immature adult groups formed following hopper groups fledging. The affected area expanded slightly from April and extended eastward and southward along the Draa Valley and southern desert margins. Some locust populations may subsequently move east into suitable areas of western Algeria, while others may move south into Mauritania and Sahel summer breeding areas. In Algeria, localized locust populations were relatively dense in the northwest under the combined influence of influxes from Morocco and suitable vegetation conditions. Sporadic populations increased along the central-southern desert margins, indicating a shift from the northwest toward central-southern suitable patches. In Yemen, small oases and wadi habitats remained in the southern Gulf of Aden coastal plains and inland transition zones; together with the possible southward movement of sporadic adults from late spring breeding areas in inland Saudi Arabia, this maintained low-density localized activity.

In April 2026, desert locusts mainly affected the central-southwestern regions of Morocco, localized northwestern areas of Algeria, and the northern inland areas of Saudi Arabia, affecting 84.8, 20.9, and 18.5 thousand hectares of vegetation, respectively. Due to northward migration and favorable breeding conditions, Morocco's affected area expanded by approximately 20.0 thousand hectares, spreading from the southwest to the center. In Algeria, the affected area remained concentrated in the northwest and largely stable compared to last month; although local risks increased due to minor external inputs and spring greening, overall expansion remained limited. In Saudi Arabia, locusts were mainly in the northern inland, with the affected area expanding slightly while maintaining a stable, low-level epidemic.

In March 2026, desert locusts mainly affected the central-southwestern regions of Morocco, localized northwestern areas of Algeria, and the central-northern inland areas of Saudi Arabia, affecting 64.3, 21.7, and 18.1 thousand hectares of vegetation, respectively.

In February 2026, desert locusts were mainly distributed in the central-southwestern regions of Morocco, localized western and southern areas of Algeria, and the upper Nile Valley corridor and southern inland areas of Egypt, affecting 61.9, 20.4 and 18.4 thousand hectares of vegetation, respectively.

In January 2026, desert locusts were mainly distributed in the upper Nile Valley corridor of Egypt, the southwestern Red Sea coastal zone of Saudi Arabia, and the southern Gulf of Aden coastal plains of Yemen, affecting 15.7, 19.2 and 21.2 thousand hectares of vegetation, respectively. 

In December 2025, desert locusts were primarily distributed in the Nile Valley irrigation zone and the southern border areas of Egypt, the central-to-southern Red Sea coastal zone of Saudi Arabia, and the southern Gulf of Aden coastal plains of Yemen, affecting 17.0, 18.5, and 22.2 thousand hectares of vegetation, respectively. 

In November 2025, desert locusts were primarily distributed in northwestern Somalia, the southwestern Red Sea coastal zone and neighbouring mountains of Saudi Arabia, and the western Red Sea coast–southern Gulf of Aden coast in Yemen, affecting 15.2, 19.1, and 21.1 thousand hectares of vegetation, respectively.

In October 2025, desert locusts were primarily distributed along the upper Nile Valley corridor and adjacent areas in Egypt, the southwestern Red Sea coastal zone and neighbouring mountains in Saudi Arabia, and the western Red Sea coast and southern Gulf of Aden coast in Yemen, affecting 15.3, 17.1, and 18.7 thousand hectares of vegetation, respectively.

In September 2025, desert locusts were primarily distributed across the central–western interior of Eritrea, the western Red Sea coastal zone and the southern interior of Saudi Arabia, and the southern Gulf of Aden coast of Yemen, affecting 15.2, 16.8, and 17.9 thousand hectares of vegetation, respectively. 

In August 2025, desert locusts were primarily distributed in the central Nubian Desert and the southern Toshka irrigation area of Egypt, the western lowland corridor of Eritrea, and the western Red Sea coastal provinces of Yemen, affecting 15.7, 13.9, and 17.2 thousand hectares of vegetation, respectively.