We often confuse it with mosquitoes, but “this pain is different” or “when did it bite me all over?” The sandflies, which make their difference by letting us form their own sentences, are actually creatures with many unique characteristics.

Commonly known as “Yakarca” Let’s talk about what you absolutely need to know about these creatures.

Midges are a genus of harmful insects belonging to the group of bivalves.

These creatures are mostly nocturnal and hide in dark and damp environments during the day. Compared to mosquitoes when they sting, they hurt much more and they suck blood. They can also be carriers of protozoa that cause a condition called Leishmania.

Sandflies, which attract attention in Turkey, especially in the Aegean region, with their high numbers, It is one of the most dangerous insect species for human health. They have been known to bite multiple parts of the body in a very short time, causing severe itching and blisters.

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In addition, joint pain may occur at the bite sites and the body may experience short-term fever. Again, these creatures It can also cause mosquito fever and eastern soil diseases.

Some of the unique features of these creatures are actually quite decisive in distinguishing them from mosquitoes.

Dwarf adults are usually 2-5 mm long and have fairly long legs. Their entire body, including their wings, is covered with feathers and The short jumps they make before sucking blood is one of their most typical behaviors.

These creatures can even survive in hot sea level cities, villages in mountainous regions, humid and tropical forests and deserts. Even They can even withstand the 50°C heat of Central Asia. In addition, both male and female mosquitoes depend on sugars in plants for their source of energy and prefer to feed in the dark at night.

Like mosquitoes, only females suck human and animal blood to develop their eggs. However, some mosquito species do not suck blood until they have laid eggs after sucking blood.

Midges spend time during the day in shady, moist areas rich in plant debris. They lay an average of 100 eggs in these areas 3 to 8 days after drawing blood. These eggs have a very sticky texture and thanks to this shape they stick to the place where they were left.

Hatching of the eggs usually occurs at night, between 5 and 20 days. In addition, the larvae hatch from the eggs; It becomes mature in 45-50 days by feeding on leaf mold, animal faeces and insect parts.

The mosquitoes’ movements are limited to an area within a radius of about 100 meters. One of the most common methods we use to kill them. Unfortunately, flies and insecticides are sometimes ineffective. Because they have so many subclasses, some species may even be resistant to these drugs.