Effect of Puparial Weight on Emergence and Sex Ratio of Adult Glossina tachinoides (Westw) (Dipten: Glossinidae)
DOI:10.36108/NJE/7991/41.0110
J.A. ONAH and M.O.E. IWUALA
ABSTRACT
The effect of puparial weight on the percentage emergence and sex ratio of the adult tsetse fly, Glossina tachinoides (Westw.) fed in vivo on guinea pigs were; investigated. The mean weight of’ G. tachinoides puparia was found to be 17.43mg±1.0. Percentage emergence increased with increase in the weight of puparia, up to 17.59±1.04. Thereafter, further increase in the puparial weights did not result in, increase in percentage adult emergence from the puparia. The male ratio of the overall emerged adults decreased as the weight of the puparia increased but increased as percentage adult emergence from puparia increased. These findings are of vital consequence in field sampling and in the maintenance of a Laboratory colony of G. tachinoides.