Abundance and seasonal variations of tabanids in southern Trarza (Mauritania)

Tabanids and Stomoxus flies are insect pests with bites and feeding behaviors that can cause anaemia and reduced production potential in animals. 11 They are also known to transmit pathogenic agents including Trypanosoma, mainly T. evansi and T. vivax. 3-5 These parasites are transmitted mechanically by interrupted blood meal feeding. 6

In Sahelian countries, few studies have been done on Stomoxys. Some studies with tabanids in Burkina Faso evaluated the efficiency of some traps and the use of some odor attractants. 7,8 An exhaustive list of tabanids has been documented from Mali. 9 But in Mauritania, no quantitative or qualitative data concerning these insects are available. No indication about the temporal distribution of different species exists or their activities despite the fact that camel trypanosomosis seems to be linked to the tabanids and/or Stomoxid populations. This study was done as an attempt to fill this gap.