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The olfactory responses of tsetse flies, Glossina spp. (Diptera: Glossinidae), to phenols and urine in the field

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

G. A. Vale
Affiliation:
Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Control Branch, Department of Veterinary Services, PO Box 8283, Causeway, Harare, Zimbabwe
D. R. Hall
Affiliation:
Overseas Development Natural Resources Institute, 56-62 Gray's Inn Road, London, WC1X 8LU, UK
A. J. E. Gough
Affiliation:
Tsetse Research Laboratory, University of Bristol, Langford House, Langford, Bristol, BS18 7DU, UK

Abstract

In Zimbabwe, catches of Glossina morsitans morsitans Westwood and G. pallidipes Austen in traps baited with acetone and 1-octen-3-ol were increased by the addition of the synthetic mixture of eight phenols found in cattle urine to a level equal to or greater than those with natural urine. The addition of natural urine to the synthetic mixture did not increase catches further, indicating that the phenols account for essentially all the attractiveness of cattle urine. 4-Methylphenol and 3-n-propylphenol were shown to be the naturally-occurring components essential for attractiveness, and 2-methoxyphenol was found to reduce attractiveness. 4-Methylphenol alone was slightly attractive to both species, but only for males, increasing catches by approximately 30%. Catches of both species were increased by approximately 50% by 3-n-propylphenol. The addition of 4-methylphenol increased catches of G. pallidipes by up to a further four times, but catches of G. m. morsitans were decreased. Of 14 other phenols tested, phenol, 3-methylphenol and 4-ethylphenol increased the attractiveness of 3-n-propylphenol to G. pallidipes without decreasing the attractiveness to G. m. morsitans; (E)- and (Z)-3-(1-propenyl)phenol, potential contaminants in 3-n- propylphenol, did not reduce the attractiveness of mixtures of 3-n-propylphenol and 4-methylphenol, and the E and, to a lesser extent, the Z isomer could substitute for 3-n-pro-pylphenol in these mixtures. Mixtures of phenols which increased the attractiveness of traps to tsetse showed similar effects with targets but at a slightly reduced level.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1988

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