Aircraft Applications of Insecticides in East Africa. VII.—An Experiment against the Tsetse Flies, Glossina morsitans, Westw. and G. swynnertoni Aust., in the Rainy Season

Abstract

The “ North Block ” at Kikore, Central Province, Tanganyika, was treated with insecticide dispersed from an Anson 1 aircraft during the period 23rd January to 4th May 1951. The area consisted of some 4,000 acres of mixed bush, including about 230 acres of miombo, infested by two species of tsetse fly, Glossina morsitans Westw. and swynnertoni Aust.The insecticide used was equivalent to a 19·4 per cent. solution of technical BHC (equal to 2·45 per cent. γ isomer) in 50 per cent. diesel oil, 50 per cent. power kerosene. The solution was dispensed through a boom and nozzles under pressure as a coarse aerosol (mass median diam. 70 microns), at a nominal mean dose of 0·25 lb. technical BHC per acre per application. Eight applications were planned and seven completed.The first application was relatively ineffective, and for the second and subsequent cycles the emission rate was increased and over part of the block the swathe width was reduced. The result was a much improved kill but neither species of tsetse was exterminated.Owing to the number of factors involved, it is not possible to give any principal reason why this experiment was less successful than previous ones, but many of the difficulties encountered are inherent in rainy-season operations in East Africa.