Tsetse Fly

Tsetse Fly
Tiny Terrors
Previous	Fire Ant
Next	Water Scorpion
Card	5
Creature Features
Genus/Species	Glossina/various
Habitat	All areas of central Africa
Prey	Mostly livestock, some people
Lifespan	30 days as larva; Up to 3 months as an adult
Soundoff	TET-see fly
Did You Know?
Scientists use fake wooden cut outs of cattle to attract tsetse flies and kill them.

The world is full of blood-sucking creatures, and the tsetse fly is one of the deadliest. With a needle-like mouth that drills through its victims’ skin, this insect delivers a painful bite and may also pass along a dreaded disease called “sleeping sickness.”

Jackhammer: This insect’s mouthparts are strong enough to drill through a crocodile’s thick hide. The fly’s red, tube-like mouth is split in two, and each half vibrates up and down to punch through the victim’s skin.

Bloody Stuffed: When the tsetse fly drinks a feast of blood, its abdomen swells and becomes bright red. The insect can drink three times its own weight at each meal.

One Bite and Goodnight

Tsetse fly larvae mature in 5 weeks.

Tsetse flies carry a disease known as sleeping sickness. The infected insects inject parasites when they bite humans and livestock, and the parasites go to work on the victim’s brain. People suffering from this sickness become confused and start sleeping during the day. They grow exhausted, physically and mentally, until they eventually slip into a coma and die. These parasites can be in a person’s body for two years before any symptoms start to show.

Fatal Attraction: These insects seem to be more attracted to people wearing dark colors and perfume or cologne. Tsetse flies also tend to chase after moving victims in large swarms.

Stay at Home: Female tsetse flies only bear one baby at a time. The egg stays inside the insect’s body, as does the larva after it hatches. When the larva is full-grown, the mother pushes it out through her abdomen.

Pass it On

1. A hungry tsetse fly infected with the sleeping sickness parasite finds a victim. The insect injects anti-clotting saliva to keep the victim’s blood flowing.
2. The fly’s saliva is filled with sleeping sickness parasites, which begin to spread rapidly through the victim’s bloodstream.
3. Later, an uninfected tsetse fly sucks blood from the same victim. The insect takes in the parasites with the blood, and will spread the disease to its next victim.

Trading Card

Tsetse Fly
The phrase “as harmless as a fly” doesn’t apply to the tsetse. This winged insect drinks blood for dinner, and carries a deadly surprise. Many of the tsetse fly’s victims are infected with the dreaded “sleeping sickness.”
Say What?	This fly grows bacteria in its gut that gives it nutrients.
Stats
Life	90
Attack	6
Defense	2