Tsetse flies are large biting flies of the genus Glossina, placed in their own family Glossinidae, that inhabit much of tropical Africa. Obligate parasites that feed on the blood of vertebrate animals, they have been extensively studied for their role as biological vectors of trypanosomes, causing human and animal trypanosomiasis with pronounced economic and public health consequences across sub-Saharan Africa.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) Relationship to People Partially Attested
Scientific NameThe common name covers every species in the genus Glossina, so the value is the genus rather than a single species. Identification
Distinguishing AppearanceLarge biting fly that folds its wings completely over its abdomen at rest, with one wing directly on top of the other 1 Comparison
CITES Appendix Connections
Child Taxon Of
In Ecosystem
Source Wikidata: Hippopotamus
Additional Source Okavango Delta (Wikipedia)Article text
Source Wikidata: Tsetse Fly
Additional Source Serengeti (Wikipedia)Article text
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Tsetse fly
Lead paragraph, second sentence
Tsetse flies include all the species in the genus Glossina, which are placed in their own family, Glossinidae.
Description, wing posture
fold their wings over their abdomens completely when they are resting (so that one wing rests directly on top of the other)
diet-classification (MediaWiki batch-API article extract states it plainly)
The tsetse is an obligate parasite that lives by feeding on the blood of vertebrate animals.
- biting flies inhabiting tropical Africa
- biological vectors of trypanosomes, causing human and animal trypanosomiasis
View the Source2. UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat): Species+: Insecta
UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat)Species+ taxon_concepts, id 28Quote, Species+ taxon_concepts, id 28
"cites_listing":"I/II/III/NC","eu_listing":"A/B/C/NC","higher_taxa":{"kingdom":"Animalia","phylum":"Arthropoda","class":"Insecta","order":null,"family":null},"synonyms":[],"common_names":[{"name":"Insectos","language":"ES"},{"name":"Insects","language":"EN"},{"name":"Insectes","language":"FR"},{"name":"昆虫纲","language":"ZH"}],"cites_listings":[]
Wikidata: Tsetse Fly
- Wikidata Q205256, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)
- Child Taxon Of: Diptera, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chain
View the SourceOkavango Delta (Wikipedia)
In Ecosystem: Okavango Delta, Article textQuote, In Ecosystem: Okavango Delta, Article text
Most Batawana, however, have traditionally lived on the edges of the delta, due to the threat that the tsetse fly poses to their cattle.
Serengeti (Wikipedia)
In Ecosystem: Serengeti, Article textQuote, In Ecosystem: Serengeti, Article text
Tsetse fly populations now prevented any significant human settlement in the area.
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