Tsetse Fly vs Big-headed Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Tsetse Fly | Big-headed Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Glossina morsitans | Pipunculus campestris |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Glossinidae | Pipunculidae |
| Size | 8-17 mm | 3-6 mm |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Farmland |
| Diet | Blood Feeders | Herbivores |
| Regions | Africa | Europe, Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Tsetse Fly
Vector of African sleeping sickness (trypanosomiasis). Unlike most flies, females give live birth to a single large larva. Both sexes are obligate blood-feeders.
Did You Know?
The tsetse fly is unique among insects — it gives birth to live young. The female nourishes a single larva internally with a milk-like substance, similar to mammalian lactation.
Big-headed Fly
A small fly with an enormously enlarged, almost entirely eye-covered spherical head. It hovers in vegetation searching for leafhopper hosts in which to parasitize.
Did You Know?
Its enormous eyes give it near-360-degree vision, allowing it to spot leafhoppers from any angle while hovering.