"Sandflea" redirects here, but can also refer to members of the Talitridae family.
Sandfly biting a human's little finger
Sandfly (or sand fly) is a colloquial name for any species or genus of flying, biting, blood-suckingDipteran encountered in sandy areas. In the United States, sandfly may refer to certain horse flies that are also known as "greenheads" (family Tabanidae), or to members of the family Ceratopogonidae, also known in Florida and elsewhere as a sandflea, no-see-um, no-see-em, noseeum, sand gnats, chitras, punkie, or punky. Outside the United States, sandfly may refer to members of the subfamily Phlebotominae within the Psychodidae.
While horse flies are large flies, noseeums (sandfleas) and Old-World sandflies are tiny midges. Sandfly bites may leave large, red itchy bumps that may turn into a rash.
In the various sorts of sandfly only the female is responsible for biting and sucking the blood of mammals, reptiles and birds. She requires the protein in the blood to make her eggs.
Some sandfly genera are the primary vectors of leishmaniasis (sandfly fever). In the New World, leishmaniasis is spread by sand flies of the genus Lutzomyia; in the Old World, the disease is spread by sandflies of the genus Phlebotomus.
Infectious skin disease found in TexasSeptember 15, 2007 Breaking News - Sandfly may carry parasites that will cause infectious skin disease called leishmaniasis.
