Laboratory colonization of the tsetse fly Glossina pallidipes Austen (Diptera: Glossinidae) using an in vitro feeding method

Abstract

AbstractAttempts to establish a laboratory colony of Glossina pallidipes Austen from adults and puparia of Uganda origin (Lugala) sent from a colony previously established in Amsterdam have been highly successful. Flies are maintained at 25 ± 0·5°C, L:D 12:12 and 85% RH. They are fed six days per week on whole defibrinated pig blood collected aseptically and irradiated at 1·5 kGy before storage at 4°C. The blood is presented through silicon rubber membranes at 37°C. Virgin female flies are mated when 7–9 days old with equal numbers of 9–12-day-old males in a 30 × 30 × 10-cm cage covered with white Terylene netting and illuminated with a fluorescent light from above, providing 300–500 lux on the cage bottom. The sexes are left together for 40–48 h, during which time they are offered food twice. After separation of the sexes, 30 females are housed in a cage 15 cm in diameter and two males are added. Flies are kept for 90 days before discarding. The establishment of this colony is discussed in terms of the mating behaviour of the species, highlighting differences in the laboratory between G. pallidipes from Uganda and Zimbabwe and between G. pallidipes and G. morsitans morsitans Westwood.