Development of baits for tsetse flies (Diptera: Glossinidae) in Zimbabwe

Analysis of host-oriented behavior of tsetse flies, Glossina morsitans morsitans Westw. and G. pallidipes Austen, led to a 10- to 1,000-fold improvement in the cost effectiveness of baits for surveys and control. Baits now are used widely to replace air and ground broadcasting of insecticides. Principles of behavioral analysis are discussed, with emphasis on the need to: confirm that the measurements made are the measurements required; assess the probability of flies executing single specific actions in response to each component of the overall stimulus from baits; count not only the flies that do one thing, but also the number that do the alternative(s); and use objective sampling devices of measured efficiency. The relevance to research with other flies is considered. The need for new tools to study continuously the field behavior of individual flies is stressed.