Biological control of tsetse flies, vectors of trypanosomes.

Tsetse fly, a major vector in the transmission of trypanosomes to animals and humans, is a constraint to the development of agriculture and livestock in Africa. To overcome this constraint, conventional tsetse fly control activities are proving onerous for poor rural communities. In addition, the uncontrolled use of chemical insecticides is causing environmental problems. Simple, inexpensive and environmentally-friendly control methods need to be identified. With the aim of finding alternatives to synthetic chemical insecticides for tsetse fly control, we evaluated the insecticidal potential of local plant essential oils for topical application and tarsal contact on tsetse flies at the Centre International de Recherche -Developpement sur l'Elevage en zone Subhumide (CIRDES). The results showed that these essential oils have interesting insecticidal properties against tsetse flies, and could serve as an alternative to synthetic chemical insecticides.