What Happened to Locusts (insect)?
Locusts, particularly Desert Locusts, continue to pose a significant threat to agriculture and food security globally, with major outbreaks persisting in Northwestern Africa through late 2024 and into 2026. Climate change is a primary driver, creating favorable breeding conditions through extreme weather events. International organizations like the FAO are deploying advanced monitoring and control technologies, including drones and improved forecasting systems, while also exploring sustainable agricultural practices to mitigate their impact.
Quick Answer
Locust activity, especially Desert Locust outbreaks, has been particularly severe in Northwestern Africa from late 2024 through May 2026, with swarms migrating across countries like Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. These outbreaks are largely fueled by unusual rainfall patterns and rising temperatures linked to climate change, creating ideal breeding grounds. International efforts, led by the FAO, are focused on enhanced surveillance, rapid response, and the deployment of new technologies like drones and soil health improvements to prevent widespread crop devastation and protect food security.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline14 events
Major East Africa Outbreak Begins
A major outbreak of desert locusts began developing, threatening food supplies in East Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Indian subcontinent, becoming the worst in Kenya in 70 years and in Ethiopia, Somalia, and India in 25 years.
Locusts Reach South Sudan
The worst locust outbreak in East Africa in 70 years reached South Sudan, a country where roughly half the population already faced hunger. Around 2,000 locusts were spotted in Eastern Equatoria state.
East Africa Outbreak Officially Declared Over
The major desert locust outbreak that began in June 2019 and affected East Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Indian subcontinent was officially declared over.
Study Predicts Climate Change Expansion of Swarms
A study highlighted that global warming is likely to increase locust habitats by 5%-25% by 2100, especially in west India and west central Asia, due to extreme weather conditions.
Unusual Rains Trigger New Outbreaks in North Africa
Unusually heavy rains in late 2024 created ideal breeding conditions in the northern Sahel and southern Sahara, leading to new locust infestations in North Africa.
Morocco Prepares for Potential Invasion
Morocco took precautionary measures against a potential locust attack after swarms were noticed in the country's south, emanating from the Sahel region, following FAO warnings of outbreaks in Libya, Tunisia, and Algeria.
Serious Outbreak Persists in Northwestern Africa
The FAO warned that a serious desert locust outbreak continued in Northwestern Africa, with the situation remaining critical in Mauritania, and a third generation of breeding expected to worsen conditions in January 2026.
Soil Health Improvement Reduces Locust Damage
Scientists working with farmers in Senegal demonstrated that enriching soil with nitrogen can dramatically reduce locust damage and double millet yields, making crops less appealing to the insects.
Locusts Reach Near Tan-Tan, Morocco
The FAO reported that desert locusts were detected near Tan-Tan, Morocco, with small swarms and adult groups continuing to move north from Mauritania into Morocco and potentially Algeria.
Massive Swarm Engulfs Highway in Western Sahara
A massive locust swarm engulfed a highway in the Western Sahara Desert near Boujdour, Morocco, with thousands of insects obstructing drivers' views and some reportedly blown towards the Canary Islands.
FAO Showcases Advanced Monitoring Tools
The FAO presented its latest tools for locust monitoring and effective management, including eLocust3K and eLocust4, at the 15th International Conference of Orthopterology, emphasizing improved data pipelines for operational responses.
Outbreak Spreads Northwards in Morocco
The Desert Locust outbreak continued in Western Sahara and Morocco, spreading northwards with increased breeding and the appearance of hopper groups and bands in Morocco.
Breeding Continues in Morocco and Algeria
The Desert Locust outbreak continued in Morocco with further breeding, and hopper groups and small bands increased across many sites. A few breeding mature adult groups were also observed in Algeria.
Researchers Stress Crucial Warnings for Locust Swarms
A study highlighted that investing in disaster monitoring for desert locusts can yield a 680-fold return, stressing the severe threat locusts pose to food security across Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Locusts, specifically the Desert Locust (Schistocerca gregaria), remain one of the world's most destructive migratory pests, capable of forming massive swarms that devastate crops and pastureland, threatening the livelihoods of millions. The period from late 2024 through May 2026 has seen a resurgence of significant outbreaks, primarily concentrated in Northwestern Africa, with ongoing monitoring and control efforts.
The primary driver behind the intensified locust outbreaks is climate change, which leads to more extreme and unpredictable weather patterns. Unusually heavy rains in late 2024 across the northern Sahel and southern Sahara created ideal moist soil conditions for egg-laying and abundant vegetation for locust development, triggering a new wave of infestations. Rising temperatures also shorten the locust reproductive cycle, accelerating population growth. This environmental shift has been a key turning point, enabling outbreaks to persist beyond typical seasons and expand into new areas.
Throughout 2025, significant outbreaks were reported in Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya, with smaller bands appearing across the Sahara and in Saudi Arabia. The FAO issued caution-level alerts, emphasizing the need for urgent surveys and control operations. By May 2025, hopper bands and immature adult groups increased in these North African countries, with adult groups and hoppers also present in Morocco, Niger, and Chad. Forecasts indicated a southwest migration towards the Sahel for summer breeding.
The situation escalated in late 2025, with a serious outbreak continuing in Northwestern Africa, particularly critical in Mauritania, where a third generation of breeding was anticipated to worsen conditions in January 2026. Into early 2026, the outbreak in Mauritania and Western Sahara split into two zones, with adult groups moving northward into Morocco, some even reaching the Canary Islands and Algeria. A notable event in February 2026 saw a massive swarm engulfing a highway in Western Sahara near Boujdour, Morocco, highlighting the scale of the problem. Breeding continued to increase in Morocco through March and April 2026, with hopper groups and bands appearing across many sites. As of May 2026, the Desert Locust outbreak persisted in Morocco, with hopper groups and bands increasing, and breeding mature adult groups observed in Algeria. Forecasts predict continued development and potential migration into Algeria or Mauritania in June.
The consequences of these outbreaks are severe, posing a direct threat to food security and livelihoods in already vulnerable regions across Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. A single square kilometer swarm can contain up to 80 million adults, capable of consuming the same amount of food in one day as 35,000 people. Efforts to combat this include intensified ground and aerial control operations, with thousands of hectares treated monthly across affected countries. New technologies are playing an increasingly vital role; drones equipped with advanced sensing and AI are used for monitoring and precision spraying, reducing pesticide drift and enabling rapid response. The FAO is also leveraging its eLocust systems for real-time data sharing and improved forecasting. Furthermore, research has shown that improving soil health through nitrogen enrichment can significantly reduce locust damage and boost crop yields, offering a sustainable control method. Despite these efforts, regional insecurity in some areas continues to hinder effective monitoring and control, allowing outbreaks to spread.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Locusts (insect) made different choices?