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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
...............CO. 885
23 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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made to catch them with a butterfly net, and though a little tedious at first, a little practice soon made the task easier. The boys were gowned in black and the attracted flies engulfed in the net if possible. By actually removing the flies au approximate idea was got of their numbers, but it must be remembered that only about one-third of the lies thus observed were captured.
Characteristics.-The flies were to be seen as early as 6.30 a.m. and as late as From noon onwards 6.30 p.m.
In cool, dull mornings they were very active. they appeared lazier and certainly were not so troublesome to catch. On three occa sions the fly was seen to rest with one wing spread out at right angles to the other. These three were caught, were genuine tsetse flies and could resume the ordinary position of the wing.
Of 300 flies caught 203 or 67.6 per cent.
**
97 or 324 per cent.
Males. Females.
The preponderance of males, according to Bagshawe, indicates breeding grounds.
Species. The tsetse fly in all cases was Glossina palpalis (Rob. Desv.). The fly belts or areas.-The main road from Aberdeen to the lighthouse may be described as more or less of a fly belt. Wherever there is a shady spot one or two Hies are to be seen.
P.
Although some considerable distance from water these spots are real fly areas. Five such definite belts can be made out. The first extends from the lighthouse to just beyond the path from the sanitary station, and is marked A in Map2* Passing through the open country of the isthmus, where there is always a breeze and conse quently no flies ever encountered, one comes to the next area H, which is close to Man-of-War Bay and is really part of one existing there and called K in the map.* Beyond this is an open space, with a path leading southwards to a spring well shaded. Here tsetse flies can always be found. Proceeding eastwards another area is at the base of the small hill Q. The last place is at the bend of the road before entering Aberdeen R. On the north coast the following fly areas are to be found. Sitting on the rocks next the wood, in sight of the lighthouse, one can often be bitten, D. The next definite area is just before the coast turns south- wards into Man-of-War Bay. Here there is typical scrub and overhanging palms. At the south-west corner and the fly is met with at once, two being easily caught. of the Bay a path leads down from the main road above and is much frequented. B. At each side, but more especially on the east side of this path a mangrove area Thirty flies were caught within exists and here tsetse are in great abundance, F.
two hours one day, and on other days half-a-dozen or ten have been easily taken in a shorter period. No flies are usually encountered, unless they be followers, until Here there is a small sandy almost the other side of Man-of-War Bay is reached.
inlet with overhanging trees, K. From this place, in two days during period of two and three hours, forty flies were caught. It is not a dozen yards from the main road and joins with area described H. Fifty yards further on a small inlet leads to a wash-hole, L, and here as many as ten tsetse were caught in half-an-hour. Mango trees, palms, bamboo and scrub exist in quantity and the conditions are ideal for the fly. On the east side of the bay no fly was found round the coast, but at some houses, M, not 100 yards from the wash-hole, four flies were seen and two caught. The natives said they were frequently hitten. A path. N, leading from these houses was found down to the shore northwards and surrounded by thick bush, on first examination to have no flies. Another day many were seen and four easily At a caught. Passing through the farmed area (see Map 1) no flies were seen. small indent O condition looked ideal and in five minutes five were seen and two It looks like a place where bottled. One now comes to the native wharf S.
tsetse exist, and the natives say they do, but on four occasions at different times of On the last occasion one fly was the day that bay has been visited and no fly seen. caught. but quite thirty yards from the shore, in the direction of the village.
Pirate Bay and Cockle Bay, as far as the Stone Pier (see Map 2) appeared devoid of the fly.
Working from the lighthouse southwards the first definite arca is a small man grove inlet marked C on the map.*
Tsetse flies are very plentiful, half a dozen being easily caught in a short space of time. Although flies don't appear to come on the rocky shore previous to this point, they are found here and there in the bush shown on Map 1.*
• Not reproduced.
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No fly was seen on the sanitary station clearing, but the keeper assures me he has been often bitten while sitting on his verandah.
Lumley Bay, as far as Lumley Creek, may be divided into four divisions. The first is open land and no tsetse fly (vide Map 2*). The second (T) where abundant bush exists (see Map 1*) shows a plentiful presence of the fly. Owing to want of space the net could not be used, and so only one or two catches were made. Suffice it to say that any shady area one went into, 2-6 flies were quickly visible.
The next two divisions are in open country and only an occasional fly is seen. As soon as Lumley Creek is crossed, one strikes typical palpalis haunts, X. Five flies were seen at once and three caught.
Aberdeen. Most of the inhabitants were questioned, and all said the mangrove
or hog fly came and bit them. This I have seen myself happen in the middle of the village.
On the north side, although they were said to exist and probably do, none were
found.
On the south side matters are totally different.
Leading out more or less parallel with the Creek are three main paths, A, D, and C in Map 3.*
Path A leads to a churchyard, K, and little further into a newly commenced graveyard in the bush, P.
A few flies are got at the start, but the portion marked S between the two graveyards is swarming with tsetse, fifteen being caught quite easily in as many Paths D and C run into a path B, which passes through the bush marked T, fly area in Map 2* and flies are plentiful.
minutes.
Along these paths water and wash-holes are found. Here the fly lurks and bites the unwary native as he bends for water.
An indefinite path E leads through the mangroves.
Scarcely a fly is to be seen along it, perhaps for the following reasons. Firstly, there is practically no traffic; secondly, at high tide all the mangroves are at least In this two feet in water, and this would not be congenial to Glossina palpalis. particular, with a big tide the flies are to be sought for where the mangrove joins the bush.
On the other side of the Creek, Maps 1 and 2 show both conditions as to bush and tsetse areas.
The flies were numerous at V, and found here and there all through the bush at W. On the open farmgrounds none were seen, but the natives said they were frequently bitten.
Pupe-Although searched diligently for, no pupæ of Glossina palpalis were
discovered.
None of the natives knew of the disease, "sleeping sickness," nor that the man- grove fly caused such a disease. Beyond it being a nuisance, the fly gave them no trouble. That it lived on blood was well known.
Monkeys abound everywhere, and antelope, e.g., duiker, were seen.
SIR.
Summary.-1. The whole peninsula may be regarded as one large palpalis
area.
2. The flies are numerous.
3. The flies exist where the peninsula joins the mainland.
4. Tsetse are to be found on the mainland on the east side of
Aberdeen Creek, also on the ferry boats.
5. The species is Glossina palpalis.
6. Apparently "sleeping sickness" does not exist, or if so, is not
recognized by the natives.
7. There is abundant food supply for the flies in native blood,
besides monkeys and bigger game.
W. A. YOUNG.
THE HONOURABLE THE PRINCIPAL MEDICAL OFFICER.
I SHALL be grateful for permission to add the following addendum to my report on a tsetse survey of the Cape Peninsula, as my attention has been directed to a recent number of the "Review of Applied Entomology." in which it is stated by Carpenter (G.D.H.), that the number of tsetse flies caught varies directly with the
Not reproduced.
C
|:
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relative humidity, while the number of flies, and especially of females, indirectly with the temperature. The following meteorological records taken at Tower Hill during the period of my work show the conditions prevailing at the time :--
Number of Flies Caught
W. A. YOUNG.
Date.
Maximum.
Minimum.
Pry.
Wet.
Dry.
Wet.
Deposit of Wet.
Vapour Pressure.
Humidity per cent.
Weather.
and Gender.
YA..
À 6.m.
5 p.m.
b p.m.
yam.
5 p.m.
9.1.
5 p.m.
9 a.m.
5 p.m.
5...
94-2
6 ...
84.0
76-0
79.2
75.2
I-69
72.5
0.710
0.798
7...
8...
89-4
:
10 ...
11 ...
12...
0-06
9.88
0-68
9.78
0.69
0.86
*.78
0-06
*** B
0.18
0-98
0.86
0-86
84-4
78.6
88-0
66.5
71.0
84.4
6-69
8.19
8.09
0-652
919-0
0-541
0-517
76.0
8.89
70-7
60.9
0-751
0-584
76.8
80.2
78-0
78-0
68.1
0-881
0-687
78-2
6.69
0.818
0.782
77.0
70-6
70.4
80-8
1.88
9.89
0.18
78.8
62-0
0.818
999-0
2 2 2 2 8
08
Strong sunshine Males 15 Females a
57
48
46
99
"
14
37
13
RE
8%
13
None attempted.
Males 87 Females 19
12
17
14
"}
24
64.9
61.4
809-0
0-546
57
48
18...
92.6
71-0
82.4
82.2
72.8
72-2
0-795
0.790
72
72
I have, &c.,
Doll
Strong sunshine'
Z1
11
26
=
27th March, 1914.
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