Study of tsetse flies (Glossina spp.) and their maintenance in laboratory colonies

Abstract

This thesis describes the methods used in the establishment and maintenance of four closed colonies of the tsetse fly (Glossina Weidmann).

The pupae were sent by air from Africa or from the laboratory colonies in Lisbon and Bristol. The flies were kept in individual cages in a controlled environment fly-room at 25° ± 0.5°C and 65 ± 5.OZ relative humidity.

When guinea-pigs were used as, hosts for feeding the flies, the results were poor, but with the introduction of lop-eared rabbits the colonies began to expand rapidly, and large numbers of flies had to be culled to keep the size of the colonies within reasonable limits.

The records for each, fly and pupa were stored individually on magnetic tape by computer, and daily registers recording the pupae produced, newly emerged flies and details of matings and deaths were used to update the fly or pupa records as necessary.

An analysis and comparison of the results between generations of flies of the same species and also between species is given. The results show that under the environmental conditions provided, the longevity of G. austeni and G. morsitans is comparable, but pupal mortality and "crippling" on emergence is higher in the former species. G. austeni had a shorter pre-reproductive period, shorter and more regular interlarval periods, and a higher mean pupal production than G. morsitans.

The performance of G. morsitans orientalis. from the Zambesi valley in Rhodesia was better than that of G. morsitans; morsitans from Singida in Tanzania.