TSETSE FLY

Assalamualaikum J

When you cooking or cutting the meat, do you have problem with the house fly? Based on my own experience, when I want to clean fishes or chicken this uninvited guest will always enter my mom kitchen through the windows. Somehow, it was really disturbing.

But, do you realize that we are luckier that people at the Africa?

The house fly might disturb us, but for them the tsetse fly will attack them. Both of these creatures have the same look, however, tsetse fly are more danger that the house fly. In our country, the house fly will always what to attack our meal, but not in Africa.

The tsetse fly that live by eating other creatures' blood

There are 23 species of tsetse flies that can be found in the mid-continental Africa. They actually belong to the housefly family so that’s why their look much similar. In addition, they have existed in this world for about 34 years and the long period does not change it looks. People fight against these insects via pesticides, through sterilization of male flies and by clearing and burning the woodlands where they lay eggs.

Why people desperately want to destroy this tiny creature?

It is because although they were tiny, they have carried parasite that can bring diseases to the one that been bite by them. The tsetse fly is responsible for 250,000 – 300,000 deaths per year. This makes the people want to destroy this creature so much.

However, it is not that easy. The female flies will have their mate only just once in their lifetime. But, they can produce a lot of young on the next 10 days. And each day they will produce it!

This shown that is not easy to kill and make this population extinct. With a tiny body and an ability to fly, it was a difficulty for human to catch them. It more seems higher possibility for them to catch and harm humans.

The effect on skin after been bite by Tsetse Fly

The tsetse flies bite can cause the victims to have sleeping sickness which kill higher number of people in Africa. The male flies are more like to attack humans while the female will prefer the large animals. You can avoid it with a few steps of precaution such as don’t wear bright colour because this colour attract them and wear a thick cloth reduces the amount of exposed skin, such as heavy long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks and shoes.

In the nutshell, feel grateful that you are not been attacked by tsetse fly when you clean up your fresh meals J