Studies on biting Simulium damnosum s.l. at a breeding site in the onchocerciasis control programme area during and after interruption of insecticidal treatments

The increase in population of biting S. damnosum s.l. at a breeding site situated within the Onchocerciasis Control Programme area of West Africa following a temporary cessation of insecticidal treatments was studied by making every day collections on human bait at five catching sites and for 2-3 days per week at seven others, between 17 January and 9 April 1977. Observations on pupal and larval densities, water and air temperatures, relative humidity and water level were also made. The results showed that there was a interval of 23 days between the last application of insecticide and the appearance of the first nulliparous biting flies. This coincided with the finding of the first S. damnosum larvae. Subsequently, the biting densities increased following a geometric progression from about 10 flies per day to a maximum of 188 per day, giving a daily rate of increase of 1.07. Ten days after the re-application of insecticide, biting densities had fallen to about 5% of the pre-control level giving a daily rate of decrease of 0.74. Very little dispersion was observed with biting rates failing to 5% at 3000 m. perpendicular to the river. At these sites nullipars predominated. Conversely along the axis of the river densities at 1000 m away had fallen to only 68% and were composed mainly of parous flies. Studies on diel activity showed the greatest biting activity between 15.00 h and 18.00 h with a lesser period of activity between 07.00 and 10.00 h. The significance of these observations in future planning of control strategy is discussed.