The biology of nineteen taxa of African Stomoxyinae was studied during experiments with odour-baited Vavoua traps in Nairobi National Park, Kenya. Both male and female Stomoxys were captured in similar numbers with CO2 released at 2 l/min or octenol released at 2 mg/h. Some species of Haematobosca reacted synergistically to a combination of these attractants, producing large increases in catch. Stygeromyia and Rhinomusca responded only to CO2 and Prostomoxys did not respond to either bait. Many different activity patterns were documented in these genera, but most activity was concentrated just prior to sunset. For example, at peak densities nearly 1500 Stomoxyinae representing fourteen taxa were caught in a single trap between 18.00 and 19.00 hours. The Stomoxyinae community was exceptionally diverse when compared with other biting fly communities. Using data from traps set with different odour baits in the park forest, Shannon-Wiener diversity indices (H') varied from 2.5 to 2.8, and evenness (J') varied between 0.61 and 0.68. The Stomoxys population was extremely female-biased at the start of the rainy season, with species such as S. inornatus and S. boueti consisting of nearly 100% females. Sex ratios equalized when the first rainy-season generation emerged. population doubling times estimated from trap indices were approximately 12-16 days in two habitats (forest and riverine woodland).
SummaryTsetse populations and trypanosome infections were monitored at the Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary to assess the impact of trypanosomiasis on rhinoceros. High densities of Glossina pallidipes were found near a permanent spring by the Ngulia escarpment; G. longipennis and G. brevipalpis were also present in lower numbers. Infection rates in G. pallidipes averaged 3·6%, with three times as many T. vivax as T. congolense infections. T. simiae and T. brucei were present at low frequency. DNA probes revealed that all mature T. congolense infections belonged to the Savanna subgroup. G. pallidipes fed on many hosts, with most meals taken from bovids and elephants. Rhino account for one of the blood meals in a small sample taken from G. longipennis. During a time of low tsetse densities (dry season), we estimated that the wild host population was acquiring seven infections per km2 per day. At lower levels of challenge, an experimental rhino became infected with T. congolense. These results are discussed in terms of future plans for the repopulation of rhino in tsetse‐infested areas in Kenya.RésuméOn a surveillé les populations de tsé‐tsé et les infections dues au trypanosome au Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary, pour évaluer l'impact de la trypanosomiase sur les rhinocéros. On a relevé de fortes densités de Glossina pallidipes près d'une source permanente, près de l'escarpement de Ngulia. Il y avait aussi des G. longipennis et des G. brevipalpis mais moins nombreuses. Le taux d'infection des G. pallidipes est de 3, 6 en moyenne, dû trois fois plus áT. vivax qu‘àT. congolense. T. simiae et T. brucei sont peu fréquents. Des tests d'ADN révèlent que toutes les infections déclarées par T. congolense appartiennent au sous‐groupe Savanna. G. pallidipes se nourrit sur de nombreux hôtes, surtout sur les bovidés et les éléphants. Le rhino compte pour un seul repas dans un petit échantillon de G. longipennis. Lors d'une période où la densité de tsé‐tséétait faible (saison sèche), nous avons estirné que la faune sauvage‐hôte sacrifiait sept individus par jour et par km2à l'infection. A des niveaux plus bas d'expérimentation, un rhino “expérimental” a été infecté par T. congolense. On discute de ces résultats dans le cadre de projets de repeuplement par des rhinos, de régions du Kenya infectées par les tsé‐tsé.
During translocations of black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis Linnaeus) in Kenya, we studied the relationships between the rhinoceros and biting flies. In trapping experiments, rhinoceros waste products (urine or dung) were substituted for known attractants such as cow urine, l-octen-3-ol or acetone. Catches of Glossina pallidipes Austen, Glossina longipennis Corti, Stomoxys spp., and Haematopota spp. were not affected by these substitutions. NG2G and Vavoua traps sited near captive animals caught similar numbers and kinds of flies as traps set without animals. Any minor attractive properties of rhinoceros odours were probably due to the presence of known attractants such as 4-cresol and 3-n-propylphenol, which were confirmed to be present through gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. In feeding trials with laboratory-reared tsetse, Glossina brevipalpis Newstead and Glossina morsitans centralis Machado fed well on immobilized animals, whereas G. longipennis fed reluctantly. Catches of G. brevipalpis were doubled in one trapping experiment when rhinoceros urine was used as odour bait. Philoliche spp., Haematopota spp. and other Tabanidae fed on captive rhinoceroses. Many species of Stomoxyinae were associated with rhinoceroses. Of these, the most frequent association was with Rhinomusca dutoiti Zumpt, a species found previously only in South Africa.
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