Sandfly Life Cycle
There are 700 species of sandflies and about 10 percent of these species are known to transmit to diseases to people. Sandflies are found mainly in tropical locations, but some species can be found in more temperate regions of the world.
Female sandflies suck blood from mammals--including humans--and transmit the disease lishmaniasis, among other illnesses. About two million new cases of the disease are diagnosed in people every year.
The life cycle of a sandfly is similar to that of other insects, going through an egg, larvae, pupae and adult stage.
Eggs
The female sandfly will lay 30 to 70 eggs, spreading them around several different sites. The eggs are elongated and oval. Within one to two weeks, unless conditions become too cold for the eggs to develop, they will hatch. If conditions do become too cold, the eggs will enter into diapause, which is a type of sleep specific to insects. During this hibernation-like state, the egg doesn't grow. It will begin to grow again once temperatures begin to warm.
Larvae
The larvae that emerge from the eggs do not have legs and are white with a dark head. They feed on dead organic matter and are often found in cracks in walls or rocks, animal burrows, caves or in decaying leaves.
Pupae
Following the larval stage, the developing sandfly enters the pupal stage on floating debris or near the water's edge. The pupa is golden brown and shortly before the fly emerges, the wings and eyes turn black. Pupal development takes five to 10 days with the adult often emerging just before dawn. The male flies generally emerge about 24 hours before the females.
Adult
Only the female adult sandfly will suck blood, which she must have for egg production. Both the male and female feed on plants.
The adults are less than a sixteenth of an inch long. Because sandflies are so small, they have nicknames such as "no see 'ums" and "punkies."
Reproduction
The sandfly will mate near the host, with breeding occurring most often near salt marshes. Some species do, however, exist in fresh water areas and tree holes. Sandfly adults are most active in June through August.
Diseases
Leishmaniasis is among the most recognized diseases transmitted by sandflies, and it can infect people, dogs, cats, horses and livestock.
In addition to this disease, sandflies can also transmit the bacterium that causes bartonellosis, Sandfly Fever Virus, Toscana virus, Chagres virus and Punta Toro virus.
Tags: sandfly will, become cold, become cold eggs, cold eggs, conditions become, conditions become cold