The improvement of traps for tsetse flies (Diptera: Glossinidae)

Abstract

Based on previous studies of the trap-orientated behaviour of Diptera, a variety of new traps was designed to maximise the speed and probability of capturing Glossina morsitans morsitans Westw. and G. pallidipes Aust. arriving near traps, and to minimise the probability of capturing other flies. In Zimbabwe, catches were made with these traps in the presence and absence of carbon dioxide and acetone as odour attractants, leading to the identification of a simple trap for which the probability of capturing Glossina spp. was up to twice as great as it was for a standard biconi-cal trap, and for which the probability of capturing other Diptera was very much less than it was for the biconical trap. The probability of capture by the simple trap was 100% for G. pallidipes, 51% for G. m. morsitans, 6% for Stomoxyinae and 1% for non-biting Muscidae. Half the tsetse that arrived near the simple trap were captured within 5 min of arrival. The number of tsetse that contacted simple targets designed to expose flies to insecticide amounted to 32–263% of the catches of a biconical trap. The use of traps and targets for tsetse control, and the procedures for trap improvement, are discussed.