Occurrence of the Tsetse fly species Glossina longipalpis in Peridomestic Areas in the Preforest Zone of the Ivory Coast (Diptera: Glossinidae)

Abstract

In West Africa, husbandry is extending into hitherto unused areas of the preforest zone. Thus, tsetse species (Glossina spp) occurring in these areas are now becomming economically and medically more important. The present paper reports on the occurrence of tsetse flies in peridomestic habitats surrounding a village in the preforest zone of Cote d'lvoire. Catches consisted of 72% Glossina p palpalis Robineau-Desvoidy 1830 and 28% G longipalpis Wiedemann 1830. The first species is reported to frequently inhabit peridomestic areas, but this is the first detailed account of the occurrence of G longipalpis in various village habitats. G longipalpis was present in almost all habitats of the peridomestic study area. It reached its highest apparent density in and near the forest, whereas at those 2 sites of the study area which were most strongly modified by human activity - the centre of the village and the edge of a dirt road - no G longipalpis were detected.