Venezuelan Pebble Toad Fly vs Glossina Austeni Tsetse Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Venezuelan Pebble Toad Fly | Glossina Austeni Tsetse Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pantophthalmus bellardii | Glossina austeni |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Pantophthalmidae | Glossinidae |
| Size | 30-40 mm body length | 7-10 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Forests |
| Diet | Parasitoids | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | South America (Venezuela, Brazil, Colombia, Peru) | Coastal East Africa, from Kenya to Mozambique |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Venezuelan Pebble Toad Fly
One of the largest flies in the world, with robust bodies reaching 40 mm and a wingspan exceeding 70 mm. The larvae develop inside rotting tree trunks. Adults resemble large bumblebees and are strong, buzzing fliers attracted to fermenting sap.
Did You Know?
It is among the largest flies on Earth, with larvae that bore through hardwood so effectively they were once thought to be beetle larvae.
Glossina Austeni Tsetse Fly
A small, dark-colored tsetse fly found in coastal forests and thickets of East Africa. It is a vector of both human and animal trypanosomiasis in coastal regions. It was successfully eradicated from the island of Unguja (Zanzibar) using the sterile insect technique in 1997.
Did You Know?
Its eradication from Zanzibar using sterile males released from aircraft was the first successful elimination of a tsetse species from an island.