Tsetse fly management
Practical Action
container should be covered with a lid that has a small aperture for slowing down the
releasing odours as the attractant evaporates.
Fix transparent polythene bag to the top of the trap frame. The polythene bag is used
as a cage for holding and suffocating tsetse flies. The sunlight attracts tsetse flies into
the cage, which get killed by the heat from the sun. Dead flies in the cage or regularly
disposed. For purposes of keeping records, tsetse fly catches are counted and
recorded. The tsetse fly catches can also be sorted by age or sex for recording.
A tsetse fly trap at Ngiluni village, Kathekani, Kenya. Photo: Practical Action / Zul.
Selecting Tsetse Trap Sites
Selection of trap sites is usually determined by the target species of tsetse fly. Generally traps
are sited in shaded places, preferably under tree shades. Animal tracks should be avoided to
protect traps from damage.
Maintaining Tsetse Fly Traps
Once in place, traps must be visited regularly to ensure that they are still upright, that cloth
are not torn or faded and that they are overgrown with bushes. The attractants must be refilled
if depleted and tsetse fly catches be emptied if cages are filled.
Trap Maintenance requires skills and knowledge about materials that are regularly replaced,
quality considerations, procurement systems, repairs or replacement skills and site clearing of
bushes. Since trap maintenance is essential for effective tsetse fly trapping, it important that
local people are equipped with appropriate skills, which can be acquired through training
workshops or exchange visits. Trap monitoring and maintenance training covers the following
topics:
Quality of repair or replacement materials
Maintenance of repair equipment, including staplers
Differentiation of tsetse fly sex or age
Replenishment of attractants including acetone and urine
Trap repair
Information collection, including tsetse fly counts and recording
Communication skills for effective dissemination of information to the wider
community.
Community representatives who can be targeted for training include trap monitors, supervisors
and owners of land (trap managers) where traps are set.
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