Wild Glossina austeni and G. pallidipes appear in many different populations. All conspecific flies possess similar surface hydrocarbons that include species-specific contact sex pheromones. Recently, evidence for a contact sex stimulant was found in the surface hydrocarbons extracted from female G. austeni. The bioactive hydrocarbon fraction contained alkanes and unsaturated hydrocarbons that were separated and analysed by GC/GC-MS. The structure and relative abundances of alkanes and alkenes from several populations of laboratory and wild collected specimens appeared to be similar.

Similarly, the alkanes of conspecific female G. pallidipes from several locations were analysed to determine differences and similarities with older, published work on the sex pheromone of the species. The components were analysed by GC-MS and were very similar across populations. If major components were compared, only minor variation was observed between females from Zimbabwe (wild), Amsterdam, ICIPE/Kenya, Kenya, Tanzania (wild), Uganda/Bristol and Arba Minch/Ethiopia. The absolute meaning of these differences is not known, since the activity of synthetic sex pheromones was shown conclusively against Wageningen and ICIPE males in 1984–1986 tests, although they were less active against Zimbabwe males.

The influence of three cultivars of Sorghum bicolor (L.) on the activity of the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae on the stemborer Chilo partellus was investigated in the field and laboratory. Fungal activity in the field varied with the plant cultivar and the inoculum concentration. Larvae fed on different cultivars and inoculated with the fungus in the laboratory did not vary in their susceptibility to the pathogen. However, time to 50% mortality (LT50) of the larvae was shorter in cultivar IS 1044 than in cultivars ICS 3 and ICS 4. Compatibility of the fungus with cultivars is therefore an important consideration when using fungi for the biological control of stemborers.