Indian Tse Tse-like Fly vs Human Body Louse
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Indian Tse Tse-like Fly | Human Body Louse |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hippobosca maculata | Pediculus humanus humanus |
| Order | Diptera | Phthiraptera |
| Family | Hippoboscidae | Pediculidae |
| Size | 7-9 mm | 2.5-3.5 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Indoors |
| Diet | Blood Feeders | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | South Asia (India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh) | Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Indian Tse Tse-like Fly
A flattened, leathery ectoparasitic fly that feeds on the blood of horses, cattle, and dogs. It has powerful claws for gripping hair and feathers and moves sideways through the host's coat with ease.
Did You Know?
These flies are so tenacious that they can run sideways through animal fur and are extremely difficult to swat or remove.
Human Body Louse
Closely related to the head louse but lives in clothing rather than on hair. It is the vector for epidemic typhus, trench fever, and relapsing fever.
Did You Know?
Body lice are believed to have evolved from head lice when humans first began wearing clothing roughly 70,000 to 170,000 years ago.