Comparative evaluation of the attractiveness of new polyethylene screens versus West African tiny target for the control of tsetse flies

In recent years, a consortium of research institutes and a private partner (AtoZ Group Ltd, Arusha, Tanzania) have developed a new technology called 'multi-layer, multi-functionalized polyethylene films', which can be used to produce insecticide-impregnated screens in different colours, at low manufacturing cost, which are robust and easy to use. In a first step, a comparative study of the material and shape of candidate white and blue polyethylene (PE) screens was carried out on Glossina tachinoides and G. palpalis gambiensis in Burkina Faso, West Africa. In a second step, four candidate PE screens were compared with a reference polyester screen, the west African tiny target commonly used in control campaigns. No significant difference in terms of attractiveness was observed between PE screens and fabric screens (p > 0.05) for the two riparian species. The vertical shape of the screen (PE and fabric) attracted significantly more G. tachinoides (p < 0.001). The white and blue vertical PE screen and the blue horizontal PE screen attracted more tsetse flies than the WATT reference screen, but none of these comparisons were significant. This study opens up new prospects for the application of multi-layer, multi-functionalized polyethylene film technology against riverine tsetse flies.