Tsetse Fly (Forest) vs Brevipalpis Tsetse Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Tsetse Fly (Forest) Brevipalpis Tsetse Fly
Scientific Name Glossina palpalis Glossina brevipalpis
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Glossinidae Glossinidae
Size 8-14 mm 12-16 mm
Habitat Rivers & Streams Beaches & Coastal
Diet Blood Feeders Blood Feeders
Regions Africa East Africa (Kenya coast, Tanzania, Uganda)
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Tsetse Fly (Forest)

A major vector of African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness). Unique among flies for giving live birth to a single large larva nourished internally with a milk-like substance.

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Did You Know?

The tsetse fly nourishes its single developing larva with a milk gland — this is the closest any insect comes to mammalian lactation and pregnancy.

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.