New research reveals the intricate mechanics behind the tsetse fly's highly effective blood-feeding mechanism, explaining its success as a disease vector across sub-Saharan Africa.

• The tsetse fly's feeding apparatus functions like a "microscopic saw" with rows of tiny teeth, enabling it to penetrate diverse skin types by combining cutting motions with flexible behavior.
• Scientists from the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology in Nairobi, among other institutions, collaborated on the study.
• This versatility allows tsetse flies to feed on a wide range of hosts, from humans to reptiles, facilitating the transmission of diseases like Human African trypanosomiasis.