Fuscipes Tsetse Fly vs Spotted Wing Drosophila
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Fuscipes Tsetse Fly | Spotted Wing Drosophila |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Glossina fuscipes | Drosophila suzukii |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Glossinidae | Drosophilidae |
| Size | 7-10 mm | 2-3 mm |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Farmland |
| Diet | Herbivores | Fruit Feeders |
| Regions | Central and East Africa, from Cameroon to Uganda | Asia, worldwide (invasive) |
| 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.
Spotted Wing Drosophila
An invasive fruit fly from East Asia with a saw-like ovipositor that lets it lay eggs in ripening (not rotten) fruit — devastating soft fruit crops worldwide since its spread in 2008.
Did You Know?
Unlike most fruit flies that only attack rotting fruit, this species cuts into perfectly ripe fruit with its serrated ovipositor — causing billions in crop damage globally.