The Experimental Application of Insecticides from a Helicopter for the Control of Riverine Populations of Glossina tachinoides in West Africa. I. Objectives, Experimental Area and Insecticides Evaluated

Abstract

The rationale is presented for the development of techniques for applying insecticides by helicopter in small-scale field trials against Glossina tachinoides, an important vector of human sleeping sickness. This approach has been adopted in view of the difficulty of applying non-residual insecticides to the riverine forest habitat by fixed-wing aircraft and the need to test the efficacy of new insecticides to ascertain effective dosages. Six insecticides were tested; endosulfan, decamethrin, permethrin, azamethiphos tetrachlorvinphos and fenthion. The trials were carried out in the River Komoe valley, a typical humid savanna area with savanna woodland, woodland/floodplain ecotones, moist riverine forest and dry forest as the main vegetation types. Glossina tachinoides was the only tsetse fly present in sufficient numbers for it to be used for evaluation in the trials, it feeds on bushbuck and carries Trypanosoma grayi, a parasite of crocodiles and Varanus spp. The area was divided into an untreated control zone, droplet penetration study area and experimental airspray blocks. Prior to the trials themselves it was necessary to undertake equipment tests and droplet size and spray penetration studies in selected typical riverine forest habitats; to determine the most effective method of aerosol application in the riverine forest and to ascertain, through meteorological studies, the most appropriate time of day to apply the pesticide. It was also necessary to monitor the effects of the insecticide applications on the non-target organisms inhabitating or associated with the gallery forest. Detailed reports of these activities are given in accompanying papers.