Home › Insecta › Glossinidae › Tsetse Fly (Glossina spp.)
SPECIES PROFILE
Tsetse Fly (Glossina spp.)
Glossina
IUCN STATUS
Not Evaluated
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not Evaluated
CLASS
Insecta
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Sub-Saharan Africa
DIET
Carnivorous
HABITAT
Forests, savannas, near water
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Arthropoda
CLASS
Insecta
ORDER
Diptera
FAMILY
Glossinidae
GENUS
Glossina
📋 Description
SIZE
6-14 mm, ~0.02 g
COLORATION
Brownish-grey; piercing mouthparts
ADAPTATIONS
Blood-feeding; live birth (viviparous)
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Forests, savannas, near water
DIET
Carnivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Sub-Saharan Africa
REPRODUCTION
1 larva at a time; matures in female
DIET DETAILS
Mammal blood (including humans)
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Control programs (disease vector)
💡 Interesting Facts
1
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.
2
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.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Kafue National Park, Zambia
Okavango Delta, Botswana
Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
May-November: Dry season increases fly activity around waterholes and game trails.
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
Wear light-colored clothing to avoid bites near water during game drives.
🐾 You Might Also Want to See...
Species
Range
Status
Species
Range
Status
Species
Range
Status
Species
Range
Status
