Some Observations on resting Tsetse-fly Populations, and Evidence that Glossina medicorum is a Carrier of Trypanosomes

Abstract

Further studies were made of G. medicorum and G. fusca using the resting-haunt technique.During 5½ collecting days, 200 G. medicorum and G. fusca were taken by the resting-haunt technique ; over this period, only one fly was taken by the normal, human bait technique.Out of 119 G. medicorum 45 per cent, were females, and out of 73 G. fusca, 44 per cent, were females ; the resting-haunt technique yields a good cross-section of the tsetse population.Out of 15 recently gorged G. medicorum and eight G. fusca examined, all contained mammalian blood. Gorged flies were very numerous, so that it should be possible to ascertain the wild hosts by the precipitin test.From the evidence available, it is believed that at the end of the rains both G. medicorum and G. fusca feed only during the twilight hours, or when the forest is fully illuminated by the moon.