A behavioural bioassay to identify attractive odours for Glossinidae

1. A behavioural bioassay, based on antennal movement responses, was developed using Glossina morsitans morsitans Westwood for screening chemical attractancy to tsetse. 2. Chemicals found to be attractive to male tsetse were acetone, formaldehyde, methylethylketone, methylvinylketone, 1-octen-3-ol and pentanal but not acetophenone, hexanal, lactic acid or urea. 3. Female tsetse also responded to all these chemicals in a similar fashion. Overall responses of females were, however, less than those of males. 4. These laboratory bioassay findings agree with field observations on tsetse responses to certain chemical odours. Therefore this behavioural bioassay should be a useful laboratory test procedure for screening attractants.