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INTRODUCTION
These flies get the common name of sand flies (not to be confused with sand flies in subfamily Phlebotominae of the Psychodidae) from their being a major pest in coastal areas, biting midges because of their painful bite and the strong resemblance of some species to midges, and that of no-see-ums from the fact that most people do not see them because of their small size. These are a pest because of the severe or painful bites they inflict, and they are vectors of disease in livestock. Although found throughout the United States and Canada, they are concentrated along coastal areas and waterways.
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RECOGNITION
- SAND FLIES
- female with WHAT AND WHAT mouthparts.
biting and sucking
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SAND FLIES
Antennae usually 15-segmented (range 13-15), male’s WHAT AND WHAT
plumose or featherlike.
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SAND FLIES
Larvae of Leptoconops burrow in soil, primarily in arid areas and on
coastal and inland beaches.
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SAND FLIES
Fortunately in the United States, biting midges/sand flies are not
known to be disease vectors to humans.
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SAND FLIES
However, Culicoides spp. are vectors of blue tongue virus in
sheep and cattle and epizootic haemorrhagic disease in the Virginian white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus (Zimmermann).
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SAND FLIES
Adults typically live in moist areas around the
larval habitat.
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SAND FLIES
in heavily fertilized areas frequented by
livestock
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SAND FLIES
Most species of sand flies are crepuscular, active at
dusk/sunset.
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SAND FLIES
Both sexes commonly feed on
nectar but some males do not feed.
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SAND FLIES
The mouthparts are somewhat crude compared to
mosquitoes.
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SAND FLIES
They use a sawlike motion to gain entry through the skin which typically causes a
sharp pain and leaves a bright red dot
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SAND FLIES
WHAT can be intense and usually lasts for several days.
Itching
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SAND FLIES
The intensity of their WHAT is far out of proportion to their size
bite
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SAND FLIES
and they can be very voracious and persistent
feeders.
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SAND FLIES
assemble in swarms for
mating purposes.
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SAND FLIES
Such swarms maintain a to-and-fro dancing flight above a landmark such as a
bush or pond margin.
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SAND FLIES
For control in structures,
exclusion is the only practical method.
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SAND FLIES
Special fine-mesh screening which is
punkie-proof must be used
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SAND FLIES
In commercial structures, the use of
air curtains can also be quite effective for exclusion.
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SAND FLIES
most satisfactory control method has been impoundment that was originally devised for
saltmarsh mosquito control.
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SAND FLIES
With this method, a dike is built to permanently maintain the
water level 2-3" (5-8 cmm) above the mud surface.
IMPOUNDMENT
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