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
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
Besides combating malaria, gene drives could be used to alter, or even eliminate, other disease-causing insects, from the sand flies that transmit leishmaniasis to ticks that carry Lyme disease in the United States.
—Jennifer Kahn, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2020
It is transmitted through black flies, sand flies and biting midges, although scientists don’t completely understand its transmission process, the news release said.
—Noelle Phillips, The Denver Post, 2 Aug. 2019
Insects, particularly sand flies and black flies, can transmit the virus to animals.
—Trevor Reid, The Denver Post, 15 July 2019
Black flies, sand flies and biting midges likely transmit the disease.
—Kieran Nicholson, The Denver Post, 26 July 2019
The viral disease is transmitted by insects — black flies, sand flies and biting midges.
—Kieran Nicholson, The Denver Post, 5 July 2019
Red sand flies during the movie's cavalry battles, horses and soldiers tumbling.
—Dan Popkey, idahostatesman, 9 Aug. 2013
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Jim Daley, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Mar. 2021
Besides combating malaria, gene drives could be used to alter, or even eliminate, other disease-causing insects, from the sand flies that transmit leishmaniasis to ticks that carry Lyme disease in the United States.
—Jennifer Kahn, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2020
It is transmitted through black flies, sand flies and biting midges, although scientists don’t completely understand its transmission process, the news release said.
—Noelle Phillips, The Denver Post, 2 Aug. 2019
Insects, particularly sand flies and black flies, can transmit the virus to animals.
—Trevor Reid, The Denver Post, 15 July 2019
Black flies, sand flies and biting midges likely transmit the disease.
—Kieran Nicholson, The Denver Post, 26 July 2019
The viral disease is transmitted by insects — black flies, sand flies and biting midges.
—Kieran Nicholson, The Denver Post, 5 July 2019
Red sand flies during the movie's cavalry battles, horses and soldiers tumbling.
—Dan Popkey, idahostatesman, 9 Aug. 2013
See More
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
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 24 Sep. 2023.
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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
More from Merriam-Webster on sand fly
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sand fly
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