tsetse fly

The tsetse fly is a bloodsucking insect native to Africa, known for transmitting a parasite called Trypanosoma that causes African trypanosomiasis, or sleeping sickness, in humans and animals. These flies are found in savannas, forests, and wetlands, where they gather near hosts for blood meals. Tsetse flies are important because they can spread diseases that impact public health and livestock, affecting local economies. They are characterized by a forward-projecting proboscis, which they use to bite and feed on blood. Control efforts often involve habitat management, insecticides, and traps to reduce their populations.