Venezuelan Pebble Toad Fly vs Tsetse Fly (Forest)
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Venezuelan Pebble Toad Fly | Tsetse Fly (Forest) |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pantophthalmus bellardii | Glossina palpalis |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Pantophthalmidae | Glossinidae |
| Size | 30-40 mm body length | 8-14 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Rivers & Streams |
| Diet | Parasitoids | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | South America (Venezuela, Brazil, Colombia, Peru) | Africa |
| 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.
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.
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.