Glossinidae

Glossinidae is a small family of large, hematophagous flies in the order Diptera, commonly known as tsetse flies. They belong to the superfamily Hippoboscoidea and are notable for their obligate blood feeding and a distinctive viviparous mode of reproduction. The family contains a single extant genus, Glossina, with roughly 20 to 30 described species distributed across sub-Saharan Africa. Tsetse species occupy a range of habitats, from dense forests and riverine woodlands to savannas, and feed on vertebrate hosts including humans and livestock.

Biology and life cycle are characteristic of the group. Females retain the developing larva in the uterus and nourish it with a milk-like secretion until it is near ready to pupate. A single larva is deposited and immediately pupates in soil. The larval and pupal stages occur off the host, with development times highly dependent on species and environmental conditions. Adults emerge after metamorphosis and live for several weeks to months; females require regular blood meals to reproduce, creating a direct link between host availability and population dynamics.

Significance and disease ecology are central to Glossinidae. Glossina species are vectors of Trypanosoma brucei, the parasite responsible for human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) and animal trypanosomiasis (nagana). Transmission dynamics vary with species and ecological setting, including host preferences and habitat.

Control efforts in affected regions have employed traps and visual baits, insecticide-treated targets, and the sterile insect technique to reduce tsetse populations. Habitat modification and integrated vector management also contribute to reducing transmission risk.