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