Fuscipes Tsetse Fly vs Petroleum Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Fuscipes Tsetse Fly | Petroleum Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Glossina fuscipes | Helaeomyia petrolei |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Glossinidae | Ephydridae |
| Size | 7-10 mm | 5 mm |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Underground |
| Diet | Herbivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Central and East Africa, from Cameroon to Uganda | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Fuscipes Tsetse Fly
A small riverine tsetse fly that is the major vector of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense in Central and East Africa. It inhabits riverine vegetation and lakeshores and is responsible for most human African trypanosomiasis cases. Multiple subspecies exist with different geographic ranges.
Did You Know?
It is responsible for transmitting over 90 percent of human sleeping sickness cases, mostly in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Petroleum Fly
The only insect whose larvae develop in crude petroleum. Found in natural oil seeps in California, including the La Brea Tar Pits. Larvae eat insects trapped in the oil.
Did You Know?
This is the only animal on Earth that develops in crude oil — a substance toxic to virtually all other life. Its larvae swim through petroleum and breathe through snorkel-like tubes.