sand flea
noun
1
: a flea (such as a chigoe) found in sandy places
The so-called sand flea that people encounter on vacation beaches is nothing more than a common flea that is breeding outdoors in the soil.—
Jane E. Brody
Jane E. Brody2
: any of various amphipod crustaceans (family Talitridae) found on ocean beaches that feed on decaying organic matter, typically burrow into the sand during the day, and are capable of leaping like fleas : beach flea
These little shorebirds are generally in small groups, chasing the receding breakers on twinkling feet, probing for sand fleas and other crustaceans …—Dennis Puleston
Dennis PulestonExamples of sand flea in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Dore and Friedrich would walk around naked at home, and one time, Dore stepped on a colony of sand fleas, and Friedrich had to remove 32 insects from the bottom of her foot.
—Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 22 Aug. 2025
For sand fleas, a tiny critter that nips at ankles on Gulf beaches at dawn and dusk, try essential oil repellents.
—Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 29 July 2025
Most of the fish are being caught on live finger mullet, shrimp, clams, sand fleas and shiny lures.
—Alan Sherman, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024
Locally they’re known as sand fleas, a name that doesn’t exactly make the mouth water.
—Lawrence Specker | Lspecker@al.com, al, 13 Aug. 2023
Along with biting insects like chiggers, black flies, sand fleas, gnats, midges, and mosquitoes, ticks can latch onto an unsuspecting hiker and infect them with an array of lethal diseases, such as Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF).
—Nancy Jo Adams, Popular Mechanics, 22 Apr. 2023
Wayne remembers taking sand flea spray to the Akins’ house, and Welling recalls picking up a portable cornhole set at her place.
—Tom Roland, Billboard, 27 Sep. 2022
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Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 22 Aug. 2025
For sand fleas, a tiny critter that nips at ankles on Gulf beaches at dawn and dusk, try essential oil repellents.
—Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 29 July 2025
Most of the fish are being caught on live finger mullet, shrimp, clams, sand fleas and shiny lures.
—Alan Sherman, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024
Locally they’re known as sand fleas, a name that doesn’t exactly make the mouth water.
—Lawrence Specker | Lspecker@al.com, al, 13 Aug. 2023
Along with biting insects like chiggers, black flies, sand fleas, gnats, midges, and mosquitoes, ticks can latch onto an unsuspecting hiker and infect them with an array of lethal diseases, such as Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF).
—Nancy Jo Adams, Popular Mechanics, 22 Apr. 2023
Wayne remembers taking sand flea spray to the Akins’ house, and Welling recalls picking up a portable cornhole set at her place.
—Tom Roland, Billboard, 27 Sep. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Sand flea.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sand%20flea. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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