Phylum
Arthropoda
Family
Glossinidae
Class
Insecta
Genus
Glossina
Order
Diptera
Conservation Status
Not Evaluated
Size
6-14 mm, ~0.02 g
Coloration
Brownish-grey; piercing mouthparts
Adaptations
Blood-feeding; live birth (viviparous)
Habitat
Forests, savannas, near water
Diet
Carnivorous
Mammal blood (including humans)
Geographic Range
Sub-Saharan Africa
Reproduction
1 larva at a time; matures in female
Threats
Control programs (disease vector)
Interesting Facts
Disease Carriers: Tsetse flies transmit sleeping sickness, a deadly parasite that's shaped human and livestock settlement in Africa, keeping vast areas wild by deterring farming. Their bite has influenced history, from colonial failures to modern health campaigns.
Live Birthers: Unlike most insects, they give birth to a single, fully formed larva after nurturing it inside, a reproductive rarity that slows their numbers but boosts each offspring's survival. This strategy mimics mammals more than their fly kin.
Best Places to Sight
Kafue National Park, Zambia
Okavango Delta, Botswana
Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania