A comparison of three types of “M” traps for sampling tsetse fly (Diptera: Glossinidae) populations at South Luangwa Game Management Area, Zambia.

Abstract

A field trial was conducted between 27th July and 1st August, 1992 in Mfuwe, south Luangwa, Zambia to assess the effectiveness of locally developed “M” traps for suppressing and sampling the tsetse flies Glossina pallidipes Austen and Glossina morsitans morsitans Westwood. The tsetse catches in the “M” traps and the standard F3 traps were collected at 24 hour intervals. The highest catches of both tsetse species in the series of “M” traps were in the M3 trap. The numbers of female flies caught for both species in all the trap types were significantly higher than those for male flies (p < 0,001). Trap catches for G. pallidipes were uniformly distributed among the M2, M3 and F3 traps. In contrast, there was a significant drop in the Ml catches. For G. m. morsitans, the results were not significantly different between the Mland the M3 catches. Based on the results of this trial, it is been recommended adopting the Ml trap, a more cost effective trap for suppression and the M3 trap for sampling of G. m. morsitans which is the only species in Kampumbu (our trial suppression area) in the Isoka district of Zambia.