Context:
According to a new atlas published by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Tsetse flies are present in 34 African countries.
Relevance:
GS III: Species in News
Tsetse Flies:
- General Information: Tsetse flies belong to the genus Glossina and are unicellular, blood-feeding insects.
- Development Cycle: These flies undergo complete metamorphosis, with females giving birth to fully developed larvae that rapidly pupate in the soil.
- Taxonomy & Ecology: Tsetse flies are classified into three groups based on their habitat and characteristics:
- Fusca Group (Forest Group): Belonging to the subgenus Austenina.
- Morsitans Group (Savanna Group): Under the subgenus Glossina.
- Palpalis Group (Riverine Group): Part of the subgenus Nemorhina.
- Habitat:
- They are typically found in dense vegetation patches along riverbanks.
- They also inhabit lakes in dry regions and dense, wet, equatorial rainforests.
- Feeding & Disease Transmission:
- Tsetse flies feed on blood and act as vectors for Trypanosoma parasites, which cause sleeping sickness in humans and trypanosomosis (or “Nagana”) in cattle.
- Agricultural Impact: Tsetse flies are linked to significant agricultural losses in African livestock, with damages estimated to be in the billions of dollars annually.
- Geographical Range: Studies have confirmed the presence of Glossina species in 34 countries, ranging from Northern Senegal (approximately 15° N latitude) to South Africa’s Kwazulu-Natal province (at 28.5° S latitude).
-Source: The Hindu
