29] 
NOTES ON THE PRELIMINARY STAGES OF GLOSSINA 
MORSITANS, WESTW. 
u.LAN Kincuorn, M.B., Toronto. 
By ALLAN Kincenorn, M.B., T 
- (Luangwa Sleeping Sickness Commission, Administration of Northern Rhodesia.) 
Seeing that Glossina morsitans, the typical “ tsetse” fly of writers on South 
Africa, has been well known for perhaps a longer period than any other member 
of the genus, 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 
trypanosomes, 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 4 | 
= iz | humidity, | - fly 
| Maximum.} Minimum. | Mean. 
| 
| 7 ac - 
| June... ser can 83:2 bled 67:2 48°6°/, 0 
Func ee | G47 52-7 68:7 45°79], 0 
| August (Ist to 20th) | 89-4 54:0 71-7 37-49. 0 
| 
Laboratory Temperatures. 
| 
—— | Maximum. | Minimum. | Mean. | 
; | | | 
sly cee INE recAl Mell MRP BIS te tf OTs 5) 
August ... ase | 778 64-6 71-2 
* Austen, Ef. &., A Handbook of the Tsetse Flies, London, 1911. 
