A novel vehicle-mounted sticky trap for Sampling savannah tsetse flieds

What is it about?

The paper reports the evaluation of a mobile sampling tool, the vehicle-mounted sticky trap (VST) for sampling Glossina morsitans morsitans Westwood and Glossina morsitans centralis Machado, vectors of human and animal African trypanosomiasis. We show that VST is independent of operator skill and ability to catch flies and is more effective in catching both female and male G. m. morsitans and G. m. centralis than the black-screen fly round (BFR), which is currently in use. Furthermore, VST covered the same distance of BFR in a much shorter time. This study provides a basis for the use of VST in large scale sampling of G. morsitans to determine its geographical limit, a critical aspect in the planning of vector control strategies and interventions.

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Photo by David Clode on Unsplash

Photo by David Clode on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This work provides a methodology of rapidily sampling savannah tsetse flies at minimal cost. It provides a means of regular updating of distribution limits of these important African trypanosomiasis vectors.