The desert locust upsurge in the Horn of Africa over 2019–2021 led to a total of 1.6 million ha being treated with broad-spectrum organophosphate and pyrethroid insecticides in Ethiopia and Kenya, while insect growth regulators and the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium acridum were applied in Somalia. Environmental monitoring was largely absent, with limited surveys conducted in Kenya and Ethiopia. Overdosing of fenitrothion of a 960 g/L formulation in Kenya led to non-target mortality, including birds and honeybees. In Ethiopia, chlorpyrifos and malathion applications coincided with a honey production decline of 78% in 2020 compared to pre-upsurge levels. The use of M. acridum on nearly 253,000 ha was a breakaway from previous campaigns, in which its successful application in Somalia against both hopper bands and swarms shows that the persistent and pervasive use of organophosphate insecticides can no longer be justified. Furthermore, future procurement of organophosphate insecticides and possibly insect growth regulators could become increasingly problematic due to measures enacted by the European Union. It is recommended that the complementary impact of M. acridum and bird predation on locusts should be considered in an integrated management approach for both swarm and hopper control.

This study contributes to the body of knowledge on the Moroccan locust (Dociostaurus maroccanus) in Tajikistan, exploring its distribution, population dynamics, economic significance, and management. Our research covers the period from 2012 to 2023. Over this period, there has been a documented increase in the size of the infested areas, with southern Tajikistan being the most severely affected. Outbreaks of economic importance happened each year throughout the timeframe. The total area impacted by infestations reached 752,130 hectares in southern Tajikistan alone. The paper places emphasis on the necessity of cross-border and regional collaboration and the adoption of environmentally sustainable control methods, such as the use of biopesticides.

The Moroccan locust (Dociostaurus maroccanus) is one of the most economically significant locust species in the Caucasus and Central Asia. In the past, the Mediterranean region also experienced severe damage to crops and pastures, until widespread grassland conversion to cropland began in the second half of the 20th century. However, climate change, environmental shifts, land-use changes, cropland abandonment, and overgrazing are likely to alter the spatial distribution and outbreak patterns of this pest. Understanding potential changes and geographic shifts is essential for proactive pest management, including effective monitoring and control strategies. In this study, we apply Ecological Niche Modelling (ENM) using 12 machine learning algorithms, historical survey data covering the species’ full distribution range, and relevant abiotic variables to identify the most suitable areas for potential mass breeding during 1991–2020 and the near future (2021–2040), based on the “middle-of-the-road” Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP2-4.5) scenario. Our results indicate significant regional shifts. Notably, breeding suitability is projected to increase in parts of Greece, Turkey, Armenia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. In contrast, countries such as Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Spain are likely to experience a decline in optimal breeding areas. The forecast results support field observations of a geographical shift northward and toward higher altitudes. Additionally, higher temperatures in suitable areas suggest more drought-like conditions, which typically promote locust population explosions and outbreaks. If left unaddressed, such outbreaks can cause severe economic damage to affected regions.