sand flies
Tiny shore pests
Sand flies are tiny biting insects found in tropical and subtropical regions, belonging to several different fly families depending on location.
In the Americas, they're primarily Lutzomyia species; in the Old World, Phlebotomus.
They're notorious for transmitting diseases including leishmaniasis and sand fly fever.
Unlike mosquitoes, sand flies are silent fliers and often bite without warning, leaving intensely itchy welts.
The sand flies were unbearable at dusk near the river.
Urge to scratch
- weltRaised skin injury
- swellingAbnormal tissue enlargement
- rednessCrimson-hued state
- scratchSuperficial wound or mark
puncture · lesion · saliva · antihistamine · allergic reaction · dermatitis · sore · inflammation
Minuscule flying insects
- no-see-umsBiting gnats, nearly invisible
- gnatsMinuscule swarming flies
- mosquitoesBlood-drinking flying insects
- larvaeImmature metamorphosing creatures
diptera · pupa · bloodsucking · arthropods · entomology · species · tiny · wings
Cause of aggravation
- infestationPest takeover situation
- swarmMass of moving insects
- repellentCauses strong aversion
- insecticideToxic agent targeting pests
DEET · permethrin · mosquito net · screens · fumigation · exterminator · pesticide · deterrent
Sandfly-transmitted parasitic disease
- vectorQuantity with direction
- transmissionSending of information
- parasitesOrganisms feeding off hosts
- endemicNative to one area
tropical medicine · prophylaxis · infection · carrier · pathogen · outbreak · prevention · public health
Sandy coastal areas
- dunesWind-formed sand ridges
- marshesWaterlogged land with grasses
- mangrovesSalt-water coastal trees
- wetlandsWater-saturated terrain
coastal · shoreline · estuaries · tropical · subtropical · humid · sandy soil · brackish water
itch
Urge to scratch
scratch · puncture · lesion · saliva · antihistamine · allergic reaction · dermatitis · sore · inflammation · nipping
midges
Minuscule flying insects
- no-see-umsBiting gnats, nearly invisible
- gnatsMinuscule swarming flies
- mosquitoesBlood-drinking flying insects
diptera · larvae · pupa · bloodsucking · arthropods · entomology · species · tiny · wings · antennae
nuisance
Cause of aggravation
- infestationPest takeover situation
- swarmMass of moving insects
- repellentCauses strong aversion
insecticide · DEET · permethrin · mosquito net · screens · fumigation · exterminator · pesticide · deterrent · spray
leishmaniasis
Sandfly-transmitted parasitic disease
- vectorQuantity with direction
- transmissionSending of information
- parasitesOrganisms feeding off hosts
endemic · tropical medicine · prophylaxis · infection · carrier · pathogen · outbreak · prevention · public health
beaches
Sandy coastal areas
wetlands · coastal · shoreline · estuaries · tropical · subtropical · humid · sandy soil · brackish water · riverbanks
- fly types
- gnatsgnats, gnat, midges, midge, fungus gnats
sand fliesmosquitoes
Blood-drinking flying insects
black flies · midges · tsetse flies · horse flies · deer flies
sand fliesbeneficial insects
Arthropods aiding agriculture
honeybees · ladybugs · pollinators · butterflies · dragonflies