EVALUATION OF TSETSE ATTRACTANTS AS BAITS FOR HORSE FLIES AND DEER FLIES (DIPTERA, TABANIDAE) IN LOUISIANA

Two experiments were conducted near Washington, Louisiana, to evaluate attraction of Tabanidae to known tsetse attractants. In the first exp eriment octenol was dispensed from reaction vials and polyethylene sac hets, acetone was dispensed from a jar capped with a perforated lid, a nd a mixture of octenol, 3-n-propylphenol, and 4-methylphenol(4:1:8) w as dispensed from sachets. Fourteen species or species groups of taban id flies were attracted equally to octenol, whether dispensed from rea ction vials or sachets. There were no differences in numbers of tabani ds attracted to 4:1:8 bait and to octenol, whether dispensed from sach ets or reaction vials. Acetone was no more attractive than were contro l traps. In the second experiment, 4:1:8, acetone, 4:1:8 + acetone (1: 50), and commercially available pepper sauce (TabascoR) were compared. Nine species or species groups of tabanid flies were collected. The 4 :1:8 and 4:1:8 + acetone baits were equally attractive to tabanids, wh ereas there were no differences among the pepper sauce, acetone, and u nbaited controls.