Observations on the breeding haunts of Glossina morsitans

Extract

The first puparium of Glossina morsitans found in nature, as mentioned in Mr. E. E. Austen's recently published “Handbook of the Tsetse-Flies,” was taken in November, 1910, from the collection of mould and humus between the roots of a large tree (Ficus sp.) near the Gorai river below the Escarpment in the Lomagundi District, Southern Rhodesia. The tree is situated about 60 to 70 yards from the actual bank of the river, as it runs at present. It is in reality growing on what was the old bank of the river, which is changing its bed gradually owing to the soft nature of the ground through which it flows. At the time of the visit “fly” was abundant in the shade of the trees bordering the river, the sandy bed of which then contained no water on the surface, the nearest open water being twelve to fifteen miles away in the Hunyani river. It was thought at the time that this was the only pupa-case secured, and a search all along the river bank produced no others. A number of empty pupa-cases of other Diptera and Lepidoptera were, however, placed in a corked phial and labelled, and on going over these later in the laboratory, the anal end of a second tsetse pupa-case was found amongst them, showing the characteristic protuberances. This spot was again visited in April, 1911, and under the same tree five more empty puparia were found, but, as before, the most diligent search elsewhere failed to produce any more. A photograph of the tree taken in November is reproduced (Pl. XVII, fig. 2).