Entomology Unit
Tsetse flies
Improvement of insect production processes
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The SIT requires a reliable supply of large numbers of insects, of good quality, economically produced. Tsetse rearing is laborious, involving many handling steps that, if inappropriately carried out, could reduce the tsetse fly quality. Over the last few years we have worked on reducing the number of handling steps and improving fly quality, including the semi-automated Tsetse Production Unit (TPU3), elimination of post mating sex separation and automatic sex separation and cage stocking at emergence. |
| Currently we are refining the TPU3, designing improved holding cages, and working on identification of the sex of tsetse pupae before emergence by near infrared spectroscopy. |
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Another aspect we are working on is a prefabricated, transportable tsetse rearing system in standard 40 ft shipping containers. During the course of an eradication campaign the rearing facility can be passed by the eradication front, posing a significant risk of reinfestation by accidental escape from the rearing facility |
A transportable system would allow the rapid establishment of a rearing facility, simple expansion when required, and easy relocation to keep ahead of the eradication front.
