sand fly

noun

variants or sandfly
plural sand flies or sandflies
: any of various small biting dipteran flies (especially genus Phlebotomus of the family Psychodidae) see also sandfly fever

Examples of sand fly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The afternoon was too hot to do much of anything except avoid the sand flies and wait for sunset. Andrew Weil, Harper's Magazine, 13 Dec. 2023 What experts know is that there’s a sand fly population that exists in southern parts of the country, including Texas. Nick Blackmer, Verywell Health, 29 Oct. 2023 Decisions on whether to euthanize the dog can be made guided by weighing factors like where the dog is from and the likelihood of local sand flies which might transmit the parasite. Alexander Tin, CBS News, 19 Oct. 2023 When infected by Leishmania parasites, sand flies have the ability to transmit various forms of leishmaniasis to humans. Nick Blackmer, Verywell Health, 29 Oct. 2023 The genetic evidence suggests the disease is being spread by local sand fly populations. Simon Makin, Scientific American, 19 Oct. 2023 While bug sprays that contain DEET can repel sand flies, CNN noted that leishmaniasis treatment for those already bitten involves a month-long course with medications such as amphotericin B. Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 20 Oct. 2023 The worry is that local sand flies could bite dogs that are imported from places where the parasite is common and then bite humans. Simon Makin, Scientific American, 19 Oct. 2023 In Europe, the parasite is carried by a species of sand fly that is not as effective of a vector as the one in Brazil, but scientists don’t know why, Hamilton says. Jim Daley, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Mar. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sand fly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1736, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sand fly was in 1736

Dictionary Entries Near sand fly

Cite this Entry

“Sand fly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sand%20fly. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sand fly

noun
: any of various small two-winged flies that bite

Medical Definition

sand fly

noun
variants or sandfly
: any of various small biting dipteran flies (families Psychodidae, Simuliidae, and Ceratopogonidae)
especially : any fly of the genus Phlebotomus see also sandfly fever

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