Tsetse flies (Glossina Tsetse flies (Glossina spp.) and African rural spp.) and African rural

development.development.

Martin WarnesMartin Warnes

Tsetse flies are obligate blood-sucking Tsetse flies are obligate blood-sucking parasites of mammals and reptiles. parasites of mammals and reptiles.

Both sexes are entirely dependent on Both sexes are entirely dependent on bloodblood

An ox in an advanced stage of An ox in an advanced stage of NaganaNagana

Tsetse distribution covers 11 Million Tsetse distribution covers 11 Million kmkm22 of sub-Saharan Africa. Cattle of sub-Saharan Africa. Cattle

distribution on the continent is almost distribution on the continent is almost the transverse of thisthe transverse of this

• Draft power

• Transport• Manure• Cash-flow• Ceremonia

l• Status• Meat• Milk

The importance of cattle in African Societies

It is a wise man who tills no It is a wise man who tills no more land than his wife can more land than his wife can conveniently hoe (Old conveniently hoe (Old Zambian proverb)Zambian proverb)

If you can’t keep cattle in If you can’t keep cattle in rural Africa you can’t till rural Africa you can’t till enough land to feed your enough land to feed your family and sell food for cashfamily and sell food for cash

So not only are the adults solely dependent on mammalian/reptilian blood, but also the larval and pupal stages.