Studies of the sampling of Glossina pallidipes Aust. IV.—Some aspects of the use of Morris traps

Abstract

Experiments carried out in south-eastern Uganda, as part of a series of investigations of factors affecting the catch of Glossina pallidipes Aust. by Morris traps, showed that this was not significantly affected by varying the interval between emptying the traps within the range 1½-24 hours or by varying the width of the entrance slit from ¼ to 1½ inches. Such exceptions as occurred could be attributed to unexplained variations in the intrinsic performance of individual traps. Almost no flies were trapped at night (1830–0630 hr.).Catches in traps with simulated defects (leaving the sleeve open or making holes in the cage gauze) were lower than in perfect traps; the catch was not significantly affected by the diameter of the sleeve opening, but was significantly lower in traps with 16 ½-in. holes in the cage gauze as against those with 2, 4 or 8. Escapes through such holes were observed whilst emptying the traps, when the recorder's approach disturbed the trapped flies, which were otherwise inactive. Frequent visits to the traps to empty them did not materially increase the number of flies effectively trapped, as might have been expected were flies escaping continuously or were the traps to catch flies accompanying the observer.When the interval between emptying traps exceeded 24 hr., losses of trapped flies occurred, to an extent that is unknown but sometimes substantial, as a result of predation by ants; this is the most likely source of significant variation in catches made by apparently identical traps, and can be overcome by mounting traps on greased, single legs. When thus protected, there was no significant difference in catch between traps cleared at intervals ranging from 12 hr. to eight days. The longer this interval, the greater the proportion of dead amongst captured flies; the median length of life after capture was about two days, this period varying slightly with sex and more substantially with undefined differences between sites and trapping periods.