Deer Fly (Chrysops) vs Brevipalpis Tsetse Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Deer Fly (Chrysops) Brevipalpis Tsetse Fly
Scientific Name Chrysops silacea Glossina brevipalpis
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Tabanidae Glossinidae
Size 8-12 mm 12-16 mm
Habitat Forests Beaches & Coastal
Diet Blood Feeders Blood Feeders
Regions West and Central Africa, Congo Basin East Africa (Kenya coast, Tanzania, Uganda)
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Deer Fly (Chrysops)

A medium-sized fly with striking patterned wings and bright green eyes. It is the primary vector of Loa loa, the African eyeworm, in the rainforests of West and Central Africa. It bites during the day, especially around the forest canopy.

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Did You Know?

The Loa loa worm it transmits can sometimes be seen migrating across the white of the eye, earning it the name 'African eyeworm'.

Brevipalpis Tsetse Fly

The largest species of tsetse fly, with a robust body and short palps from which its name derives. It inhabits thicket and coastal bush habitats.

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Did You Know?

Despite its large size, it is a relatively weak vector of trypanosomiasis compared to other tsetse species.