Ecology and behaviour of Glossina pallidipes Austen (Diptera: Glossinidae) in southern Kenya

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Abstract
Glossina pallidipes Aust. was captured from a moving vehicle and in Moloo traps at three-week intervals from October 1975 to December 1976 in the Kibwezi Forest, Kenya. The percentage of teneral flies captured was about twice as high in the vehicle samples as in the traps. Samples in the traps were mainly of older flies, especially parous females. The numbers of G. pallidipes collected in the traps during 20 two-day periods were correlated with those collected from the vehicle. The vehicle-catch levels were less variable than those in the traps. By both methods the highest numbers were collected in September (cold season) and the lowest in November-December (short rains). Attraction to the vehicle followed a bimodal diel pattern at all seasons, with a higher morning (09.30–10.00 h) than afternoon (17.30–18.00 h) peak, and a midday depression at 13.30–14.00 h; the afternoon peak was much reduced in parous females. At all seasons, only one distinct peak (at 15.00–17.00 h) and very low catches at night were exhibited by flies attracted to the traps.