What is the scientific name for sandflies?
Q: What is the scientific name for sandflies?
A: The scientific name for sandflies is Phlebotominae, a subfamily of flies.
Q: What diseases are spread by sandflies?
A: Sandflies can spread parasitic diseases such as leishmaniasis, bartonellosis and pappataci fever.
Q: In which regions do Lutzomyia live?
A: Lutzomyia often live in caves, where their main hosts are bats.
Q: How do sandflies feed on blood?
A: Sandflies use their mouthparts to start the host bleeding and then suck up the exposed blood. They also inject biochemicals that inhibit blood clotting and stimulate host mast cells to produce histamine in order to promote blood flow.
Q: How many eggs can one blood meal support?
A: One blood meal can support the production of about 100 eggs.
Q: Where do females lay their eggs?
A: Females lay their eggs in humid soil rich in organic matter.
Q: What is the typical body size of a sandfly?
A: Sand flies are small; a body size of about 3mm in length is typical.
