291 



NOTES ON THE PRELIMINARY STAGES OF ULOSSINA 

 MORSITANS, WESTW. 



By Allan KiNonoRN, M.B., Toronto. 



{Liianqwa Sleephu/ Sickness Commission, Administration of Northern Rhodesia.) 



Seeing' that Glosshui morsitans, the typical " tsetse " fly of writers on South 

 Africa, has been well known for perhaps a longer j^eriod than any other member 

 of the g'enns, it is a matter for great surprise that much of its life history is yet 

 entirely unknown. A large mass of literature, dealing with its general habits, is 

 extant, but the breeding habits and the larva have not been described. It is 

 noteworthy that only last year a single specimen of the puparium was discovered 

 for the first time,* and when the wide distribution, the great plentitude, and the 

 economic importance of the fly are considered, this becomes all the more 

 remarkable. 



The notes given below have been compiled while breeding Glossina morsitans 

 in the laboratory for the purpose of making experiments on the transmission of 

 trypanosomcs, and deal more particularly with the breeding habits, the larva, and 

 the pupa. The observations have extended over a very short period, from the 

 middle of June to the middle of August, and are, therefore, rather incomplete, 

 but it is hoped that when more time has elapsed it will be possible to elaborate 

 them, and to correct any errors which may have arisen. 



The months in question lie at the height of the dry season in this country 

 (Northern Rhodesia), and the meteorological conditions have been as follows 

 (temperatures given in degrees Fahrenheit). 





External Shade Temperatures. 



Relative 

 humidity. 



Rainfall. 



Maximum. 



Minimum. 



Mean. 



June 



June 



August (1st to 20th) 



83-2 

 84-7 

 89-4 



51-3 

 52-7 

 54-0 



67-2 

 08-7 

 71-7 



48-f)7„ 

 45-7°/o 

 37-4% 





 

 



Laboratory Temperatures. 





Maximum. 



Minimum. 



Mean. 



July " 



August 



76-4 

 77-8 



58-5 

 64-6 



67-4 

 71-2 



Austen, E. B., A Handbook of the Tsetse Flies, London, 1911. 



