Sandfly

Sandfly is a common name for several small flies known for biting and feeding on blood. In medical entomology, it most commonly refers to the Phlebotominae, a subfamily that includes Old World genera such as Phlebotomus and New World genera such as Lutzomyia. In some regions, other biting midges of the Culicoides group are also called sandflies. These insects are small, typically 1.5 to 3.5 mm long, with a hump-backed appearance and hairy bodies. Females require a blood meal to mature eggs, while males feed mainly on nectar.

Sandflies inhabit warm, humid environments and are often active at dusk and during the night. They rest in dark, sheltered places by day, including caves, animal burrows, leaf litter, and dense vegetation. Breeding sites are moist, organic-rich soils and materials such as decaying vegetation or animal waste. Development from egg to adult is temperature- and moisture-dependent and can take several weeks in tropical areas, with longer cycles in cooler regions.

Public health relevance centers on their role as disease vectors. Phlebotomine sandflies are vectors of Leishmania parasites, which cause cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis in humans and animals. They may also transmit phleboviruses responsible for febrile illnesses such as sandfly fever. Control strategies focus on reducing contact between sandflies and hosts and limiting breeding sites, including the use of insect repellent and bed nets treated with insecticide, indoor residual spraying where appropriate, and environmental management to remove moist, organic-rich habitats.