Improving the cost-effectiveness of artificial visual baits for controlling the tsetse fly glossina fuscipes fuscipes
Date
2009-07
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Public Library of Science
Abstract
Tsetse flies, which transmit sleeping sickness to humans and nagana to cattle, are commonly controlled by stationary
artificial baits consisting of traps or insecticide-treated screens known as targets. In Kenya the use of electrocuting sampling
devices showed that the numbers of Glossina fuscipes fuscipes (Newstead) visiting a biconical trap were nearly double those
visiting a black target of 100 cm6100 cm. However, only 40% of the males and 21% of the females entered the trap,
whereas 71% and 34%, respectively, alighted on the target. The greater number visiting the trap appeared to be due to its
being largely blue, rather than being three-dimensional or raised above the ground. Through a series of variations of target
design we show that a blue-and-black panel of cloth (0.06 m2) flanked by a panel (0.06 m2) of fine black netting, placed at
ground level, would be about ten times more cost-effective than traps or large targets in control campaigns. This finding
has important implications for controlling all subspecies of G. fuscipes, which are currently responsible for more than 90% of
sleeping sickness cases.
Description
CITATION: Lindh, J. M., et al. 2009. Improving the cost-effectiveness of artificial visual baits for controlling the tsetse fly glossina fuscipes fuscipes. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 3(7): 1-7, doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0000474.
The original publication is available at http://journals.plos.org/plosntds
The original publication is available at http://journals.plos.org/plosntds
Keywords
Tsetse-flies, Sleeping sickness, Glossina fuscipes fuscipes, Nagana, Pest control baits
Citation
Lindh, J. M., et al. 2009. Improving the cost-effectiveness of artificial visual baits for controlling the tsetse fly glossina fuscipes fuscipes. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 3(7): 1-7, doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0000474