THE SANDFLY

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 110, 31 December 1931, Page 2

THE SANDFLY

HOLIDAY SPOILERS \ , ONE OF THE GREATEST PESTS" IN N.Z. SEVEN DIFFERENT SPECIES The many who, during the holidays, will go down to the streams and lakes in bathing togs and occupy their business near great waters — to paraphrase slightly the well-known psalm — will cordially agree with Dr. R. J. Tillyard, who, in his classical work upon the insects, of Australia and New Zealand, refers to sandflies in the following terms: — "True sandflies, also called buffalo-gnats in America, are one of the greatest pests in New Zealand, where they swarm in the neighbourhood of all running streams and bite viciously | from morning until evening." Many a holiday-maker, however, writing not an entomologieal work, but his candid opinion on these small and ubiquitous pests, would probably use much more lurid and vivid language, for sandflies can literally spoil a holiday or a picnic. Sandflies are not peculiar to New Zealand, species being found in most. parts of the world where temper'atures are not too extreme. Britain seems to be about "the only country where sandflies do not bite. But in New Zealand the sandflies *seem to have a more insatiable appetite than they have in any other part of the world. Whether the fact is that the human population of the country is comparatively sparse compared with the number of sandflies waiting for. their rations, or whether there is "something in the seaside air," which makes them so voraeious, it would be unprofitable to argue. The painful and undisputed fact is that sandflies bite, and bite hard and often, whenever they get the chance.

The fashion set by the mosquito tribe is followed; only the lady bites, the gentlemen sandflies chivalrously standing by while their better halves take their fill. The vicious attack is made with a six-bladed structure in the form of a proboscis. When this is pushed into the skin, the sandfly literally almost standing upon* its head to do so, poison and saliva are simultaneously ejected. The former, the nature of which is not known, sets up the well-known irritation, while the latter apparently is a little scheme on the sandfly's part to prevent the blood which it draws from its human host coagulating. It has been stated that if the victim is heroic enough ro allow a sandfly to drink its fill, not brushing it off while the meal is only half completed, the subsequent irritation is not nearly so bad. This, however, is a matter for individual experiment; most bitten victims prefer to swat the little demon at once. Wide Distribution Entomologists credit the islands comprising New Zealand with seven species of sandfly, six of which reside upon .the mainland. They are found all over New Zealand fairly commonly, the favourite place of residence undoubtedly being in the country to the west of the South Island cold lakes. In some localities there they are unbelievably numerous, so much so that it would be quite im- - possible to live there. But as all the New 'Zealand species of sandflies apparently bite, what do these countless millions of sandflies living in locali-' ties unfrequented by humans do when they are hungry or thirsty? The problem as to what the lady sandfly, who has such a penchant for human blood, does when there are no humans about on whom she may satisfy her craving, is one still awaiting solution. Bad as the sandflies are in New Zealand, it is some consolation to know that they migh't be much worse. In parts of North America and Asia it is stated that they attack animals so viciously as to ldll them, and -a Himalayan species is credited with the ability to cause the death of human beings. No death in New Zealand have ever been attributed to sandfly bites, although much bad language has been. The trouble is. that there is no infallible method of preventing the pests biting. The only known effective deterrent is to make oneself smell like a chemist's shop by a liberal anointing on all exposed parts with a mixture of equal parts by weight of oil of citronella and spirits of camphor, and half the amount by weight of oil of eedar. This mixture keeps the sandflies off, but it does not hinder them from gathering about in a thick cloud for a close inspection of the proposed victim. And, as sandflies have a marked ability for crawling beneath loose clothing, the odds are ten to one in favour of the sand-fly getting her meal after all.