Sandfly

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Let’s know what is a sand fly! Sand flies have hairy, brownish-gray wings that are about an eighth of an inch long. They are most active between dusk and dawn, holding their wings in a "V" shape above their bodies. The larvae resemble worms. Sand fly, any insect of the order Diptera belonging to the family Phlebotomidae, which is a sand fly scientific name, (also known as the Psychodidae). Aquatic larvae can be found in the intertidal zone of coastal beaches, mud, and otherwise wet organic debris.

They are found primarily in tropical and subtropical climates. They breed in moist environments such as decaying plants, moss, and mud. They often are found in the United States' southern states.

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Female sand flies consume animal and human blood in addition to nectar and sap. Phlebotomus transmits the pappataci fever virus around the Mediterranean and in southern Asia, and it carries protozoan parasites that cause kala azar, Oriental sore, espundia, and bartonellosis in parts of South America, Africa, and Asia. Certain species of the black fly and biting midge (qq.v) families are also referred to as sand flies.

In this article, we are going to go through sand fly bites, sand fly causes, sand fly life cycle, sand fly scientific name.

Symptoms

Sand fly bites are generally painful and can result in red bumps and blisters. These bumps and blisters can become infected or cause dermatitis, or skin inflammation. Sand flies transmit diseases to both animals and humans, including leishmaniasis, a parasitic disease. The Centers for Disease Control, as well as Prevention (CDC), is an acronym for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 

In the United States, leishmaniasis is uncommon. It is possible to contract it while visiting a foreign country. There are no vaccines available to protect against leishmaniasis. Skin sores appear weeks or months after the bite. They usually go away on their own, but they can be serious in some cases.

Treatment

To aid healing and reduce itching, apply hydrocortisone or calamine lotion directly to the bites. Itching can also be relieved by oatmeal baths and aloe vera. You should see a doctor if you have persistent sores or ulcers.

What Do They Look Like?

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To aid healing and reduce itching, apply hydrocortisone or calamine lotion directly to the bites. Itching can also be relieved by oatmeal baths and aloe vera. You should see a doctor if you have persistent sores or ulcers.

Behaviour, Diet and Habit

Male sand flies do not feed on blood, but female sand flies do. Before they can lay eggs, females should consume a blood meal. Both males and females, however, consume sugar-related nutrients derived from plant nectar or honeydew. The hosts of sand flies vary greatly. Lutzomyia shannani, a common sand fly species in Florida and other coastal states, feed on white-tailed deer, horses, donkeys, mules, cattle, swine, raccoons, rodents, birds, and humans.

Sand fly bites are generally excruciatingly painful. The majority of flies that bite humans feed in the evening and at night. Flies will sometimes attack during the day if they are disturbed while resting. Dry tree holes, hollow logs, palm tree crowns, as well as the canopy of subtropical and tropical rainforest forests are all popular daytime resting spots. Inside the home is another common place for daytime resting.

Sand flies develop through complete metamorphosis, which means they go through four stages: egg, larvae (grub), pupae (cocoon), and adult. Sand flies finish their life cycle in 1-3 months, depending on the species and environmental conditions. Sand fly adult females lay approximately 30-70 eggs in small batches on moist surfaces such as soil in protected areas with high humidity and organic matter. Eggs usually hatch about two weeks after they are laid. 

The larval stage may take as little as three weeks to mature, but it may take longer if the larvae are in an area where they must survive cold temperatures. Before going to the pupal stage, the larvae cease feeding on organic material in one environment and seek a pupation site, which is drier, unlike their larval habitat. Typically, the pupal stage lasts only 1-2 weeks. After emerging from the pupal case, the adults disperse at night, with the males dispersing in front of the females.

Feeding

Sand flies feed on plant sugars in general (Lewis and Domoney, 1966), as well as ultimately on aphid and coccid honeydew (Killick-Kendrick, 1979). According to Chaniotis (1974), some sugars are preferred over others, which could imply that preferences for specific plants may limit the distribution of the insect and thus of potentially transmissible parasites.

Only female sand flies feed on blood, which is suspected as a source of protein for egg development. Males are attracted to females when they are feeding and will mate with them even while the females are taking a blood meal. When seeking food, sand flies normally have a characteristic short hopping flight. 

Reproduction

Sand fly females, in general, require a blood meal in order to lay eggs.

Sand Fly Life cycle

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Let’s go through sand fly life cycle. Each species of sand fly has distinct and complex biology that includes reproduction, feeding, dispersal, and other activities that are important for the epidemiology of transmitted diseases and vector control (WHO, 1990).

Sand fly life cycle -  flies get into four different phases throughout their life cycle: egg, larvae, pupa, and adult/imago.

Larvae in arid and temperate regions can go into diapause for months at a time. Sand flies overwinter as eggs or larvae in temperate regions, a process known as diapause. As a result, adults can appear early in the summer, and leishmaniosis, one of the sand fly-borne diseases, can exist in areas with cold winters (Lewis, 1971). Similarly, diapause maybe how numerous tropical sand flies survive periods of drought and otherwise heavy rain (Ward and Killick-Kendrick, 1974).

Signs of A Sand Fly Infestation

The most common sign of an infestation is the appearance of sand flies and their painful bites, which can cause the secondary infection. Furthermore, evidence of sand fly problems includes the prevalence of human and animal diseases transmitted by sand fly bites.

Distribution

Sand flies are found all over the world. However, their distribution is classified as either old world or new world sand flies based on their genus. The genera Lutzomyia, Brumptomia, and Warileya are found in the new world, while Phlebotomus and Sergentiomyia are found in the old world. Lutzomyia has the widest distribution range in the United States, reaching as far north as New Jersey and as far south as Florida.

Why do Sandflies Bite?

Sandfly (also known as blackfly) bites are a common annoyance during the summer. As with mosquitoes, only females bite, and the extra nutrients from blood are used to produce more eggs. Females who do not receive a blood meal lay fewer eggs. Sandflies will not only attack humans, but also other mammals and birds. Penguins are said to be a particular favourite.

Why are The Bites so Itchy?

As an immune response to the saliva released by the insect while biting, our bodies produce histamines. Fluid is released in the bite area when histamines are released, causing swelling. The fluid aids in the diluting and flushing of foreign substances. Histamines can also cause some nerve cells to fire repeatedly, which the brain interprets as itching.

What is Leishmaniasis?

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic infection affected via an intracellular parasite (genus Leishmania) that is transmitted to humans through the bite of a female phlebotomine sand fly. Every year, between 900,000 and 1.3 million people contract leishmaniasis. Leishmaniasis affects approximately 12 million people worldwide. There are approximately 20 or more pathogenic species of the genus Leishmania as well as approximately 30 to 500 different sand fly species, all of which can contribute to the disease's transmission to humans and other mammals (for example, dogs).

What are The Types of Leishmaniasis?

The types of this disease are determined by the classification system used. There are two major classification systems for leishmaniasis; one is based on medical disease and is divided into cutaneous, mucocutaneous, as well as visceral disease. Cutaneous leishmaniasis is further classified as localised, diffuse, and recidivans, whereas post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis occurs after recovery from visceral leishmaniasis. 

The second classification system is based on geographic incidence and has two major divisions: Old World leishmaniasis (found in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, the Mediterranean, and India) and New World leishmaniasis (found in the rest of the world) (found in the rest of the world). The first division, known as New World leishmaniasis (found in Central and South America), causes cutaneous or visceral disease, whereas the second division, known as New World leishmaniasis (found in Central and South America), causes cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and visceral disease.

How to Treat Sandfly Bites?

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Antihistamine tablets or creams can be beneficial. Some people find that applying ice to the bite provides relief. Bites should never be scratched as this increases the likelihood of infection.

The best treatment may be to avoid being bitten in the first place. Sandflies are more active at dawn and dusk, as well as on warm, cloudy days, so take extra precautions during these times. They are also drawn to darker clothing, so dress in lighter colours and cover up as much as possible. Sandflies are also more likely to be found near running water, usually within ten metres. At greater distances, their numbers tend to decrease.

More Information

In many parts of the world, sand fly diseases are transmitted by the bite of infected female sand flies. Among the more serious diseases spread by sand flies are:

• Cutaneous leishmaniasis

• Visceral leishmaniasis

• Sand fly fever

• Carrions disease

• Pappataci fever

• Vesicular stomatitis virus

Due to the hidden, cryptic nature of where sand flies develop, large area control of sand flies is extremely difficult for homeowners and small neighbourhood communities. When sand flies become a problem, the best thing a homeowner can do is contact their local mosquito abatement district or another local or state agency that can control sand flies on a large scale. If this is not a choice, contact a pest management professional who can conduct an inspection and then devise a plan to control sand flies on a limited scale all over your home or business.

Sand Fly Causes & Preventive Measures

• Avoid swampy, wet sand during the dawn and dusk hours.

• Cover your skin with clothing (this can be difficult in the tropics), but a thin cotton shirt will create a change.

• Use tropical strength insecticide spray/lotions before going outside – if you are concerned about toxins on your skin, you may choose the next alternative.

• Before going outside, apply baby oil (mixed with Dettol) – You should be aware that using baby oil increases your chances of getting sunburned.

• Take high doses of B12 [1000mg] every day for almost two months prior to visiting the location.

• Consume a lot of bananas instead of taking B12 supplements.

Remedies

• Bathe the affected area in cool, salted water. This is ideal for the ocean. Our swimming pool will suffice.

• Showering before going to bed (excessive heat will exacerbate the itch, so opt for cooler temperatures.

• Applying SOOV cream to the affected area/s – the "cool" in the gel soothes the itch.

• Lotion with calamine. It's fine for kids, but it's not the best option for adults.

• Numbing spray for immediate and short-term relief.

• Tea Tree oil.

• Stop Itch or Stingoes lotion from the pharmacy.