Behavioral Responses of Tabanidae and Stomoxys calcitrans to Unbaited and Baited Nzi and Horse Pal Traps in Southern Sweden

Abstract

The distribution and species diversity of tabanids and stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans Linnaeus, 1758, in the research area, Hästhult (wood pasture) in Sweden, as well as the behavioral responses of biting flies to visual and olfactory cues were highlighted by this study. Beyond the control of tabanids and stable flies through the Nzi and Horse Pal traps that act as a surrogate host, this study sought to demonstrate the attractiveness of biting flies to these traps by comparing the results of the two periods in which the traps were unbaited and baited. The odor attractants, such as urine (a mixture of more than phenol) and acetone used to increase trap yields, made the difference to the Horse Pal and Nzi traps for S. calcitrans (L) because the number of flies caught was significantly higher. Through this study, Nzi trap with bait and Horse Pal trap with and without bait were tested for the first time as regards the tabanids and S. calcitrans (L) in Scandinavia. Surprisingly, the number of tabanids caught in the Nzi trap was equal in both situations with or without bait. The result underlined the idea that the Nzi trap manages to catch a large number of tabanids even in the absence of attractants. It turns out that the Horse Pal trap was just as effective with and without bait in capturing tabanids. Furthermore, the number of tabanids caught in both traps depended on the type of weather, and the number of stable flies depended on the weather and also the type of trap. The results of this study showed that both the visual and olfactory aspects of the Nzi and Horse Pal traps are always essential, being used successfully in the control of biting flies and optimized for various research purposes.

New materials for improving catches of horseflies (Diptera: Tabanidae) in Nzi traps

“…After many tests, substitution of Sunbrella for phthalogen blue cotton remains a practical option for portable traps (Van Hennekeler et al ., 2008; Kline et al ., 2018; Vaduva, 2020). Top Notch and similar solution‐dyed polyesters (Top Notch 9 & 1S, WeatherMax 80 & LT, Aqualast, Suntainium, SolarShade) could also be explored, as polyesters retain pyrethroids well (Mebourou et al ., 2020).…”

“…It is now often chosen for tabanid sampling elsewhere: e.g. Europe (Vaduva, 2020), Asia (Changbunjong et al ., 2018), and South America (Lucas et al ., 2020). Nzi traps are effective when not baited, but very high captures are also possible with simple baits (Mihok & Lange, 2012; Baldacchino et al ., 2013).…”

Tests of durable Nzi traps for horseflies (Diptera: Tabanidae) in the United States of America, the Sudan, and the Philippines

“…Sunbrella Nzi traps have also been compared with Horse Pal® traps in Sweden, with and without baits. Catches were lower in the Horse Pal® trap but not significantly so (Vaduva 2020).…”