| Native New Zealand Sandfly | | | | with long sleeve garments |
| | | | |
| Maori name: Namu | | | | 2. Wear a hat; Always wear a hat (sandflies |
| | | | don't really go for your face) |
| Family name: Simuliidae blackfly | | | | |
| | | | 3. Cover yourself in Botanica; this is the |
| There are 13 species in New Zealand, two of | | | | best Sandfly repellent as it has natural |
| which bite humans: the others preferring | | | | ingredients and does not contain the Deet |
| penguins, bats, and seals. They locate their | | | | chemical. |
| prey through sight and small and it is only | | | | |
| the female sandfly bites. She needs blood to | | | | 4. Put Botanica on your hat; Cover your hat |
| produce her eggs so using her saw-like jaws | | | | in Botanica |
| to stab the skin a pool of blood is created, | | | | |
| this is lapped up with her tongue. Her saliva | | | | 5. Take your vitamin B; Sandflies don't like |
| contains an anticoagulant that causes the | | | | vitamin B |
| irritation to your skin. Eggs are laid in | | | | |
| fast flowing water. The males congregate in | | | | 6. Eat Marmite or Vegemite; Marmite and |
| shady humid bushy areas and live off sap and | | | | Vegemite the table spreads contain vitamin B. |
| nectar. | | | | Some of this on your morning toast might also |
| | | | help. You would have to eat a lot of this to |
| Sandflies are located in wetter areas of New | | | | make it your only form of defence |
| Zealand and can be pests, but are effectively | | | | |
| controlled by use of an insect repellent. | | | | 7. Avoid wearing dark colours; Sandflies go |
| | | | for dark colours |
| The West Coast of the South Island and the | | | | |
| Fiordland area has sandflies that will "eat | | | | Botaniac has natural products and is |
| you alive". These New Zealand tiny sandflies | | | | available at health food stores and some |
| are not generally lethal but they are very | | | | Pharmacies (drug stores). Botanic is |
| annoying. | | | | available in a spray on or roll on and with |
| | | | sunscreen. It is a white bottle with a blue |
| You must be prepared with protection or the | | | | lid. Botaniac smells nice. |
| little flies will drive you mad. | | | | |
| | | | I hope this prepares you for your sandfly |
| There are some simple things you can do to | | | | defence. If you keep these little creatures |
| avoid the tiny itchy bites. | | | | away you will enjoy some of the most |
| | | | beautiful spots in the world. |
| 1. Cover your skin; Cover your arms and legs | | | | |