MinireviewThe use of entomopathogenic fungi in the control of tsetse flies

Tsetse flies harbor a number of pathogens in nature; but their potential as biological control agents has not been fully exploited, especially due to the difficulty of their application in the field. Since entomopathogenic fungi infect their target organisms through the cuticle, it has been possible to develop a device that deliver and autodisseminate inoculum among tsetse in the field, resulting in population reduction, comparable to mass-trapping technology. However, the success of this technology depends on the effective horizontal transmission of the inoculum between insects. We present an overview of the prospects of entomopathogenic fungi for the control of tsetse flies and highlight the challenges.

Graphical abstractDownload full-size imageHighlights► Entomopathogenic fungi can play an important role in the control of tsetse flies. ► A device was develop to deliver & autodisseminate inoculum among field tsetse flies. ► Integration of autodissemination of fungal pathogens in SIT for effective control.