Bug-to-Beach Ratio

Graeme Fraser · Post by **Graeme Fraser** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 4:20 am

Hello All,
Let me start by saying that I have enjoyed this site as a guest for over a year. Thanks to Steve and Erica for this.

My parents were born in Trinidad, so I have visited TnT many times. The recent spate of posts on sandflies has gotten me quite alarmed, and it makes me realize that perhaps I am out of touch because I have never been bothered by a sandfly in Tobago in my life.

To be fair, I have spent the majority of my time at Store Bay, Pigeon Point and Buccoo, and I have only ever gone to the beach in the daytime. Also, I typically visit between December and April - I cannot remember to what extent sandfly activity is seasonal.

It would be very heplful if someone could list the most problematic sandfly beaches in Tobago, using Pigeon Point (for example) as a reference point.

I have a young family (children 3.5 and 1.5y), so I am solely interested in daytime sandfly activity. I am in the planning stages now for a family visit to Tobago in late February with a focus on Castara - but not if the sandflies are too bad.

Needless to say, I detest sandflies.

Graeme

Post by **Steve Wooler** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 8:12 am

Hi Graeme

Welcome aboard!

Erica? You've got me into deep do-do here. Jill now thinks I'm having an affair.

I wish the sandfly problem was as simple as that. The little buggers are so small that they are effectively invisible, you don't feel them bite and the bite only become visible 2-6 hours later. So, you can't really say where you got bitten. I wouldn't have the remotest idea whether any specific beach was worse than another. One day you might be bitten, the next you could escape unscathed.

First of all, let me say that the sandfly problem on Tobago is NO worse than on any tropical beaches. In fact, I think I can probably scratch the word 'tropical' because sand flies are found all round the world I believe.

Secondly, sand flies do not seem to be attracted by everyone. Some people never get a single bite. I am normally never troubled, but last year I was. And yet, one of my son's, his wife and 16-month old daughter joined us and none of them, including the baby (who spent a lot of time on the beach), were troubled - sorry, I think the baby got about three bites, which were quickly sorted overnight with Anthisan.

I believe that sand flies are most active in the hour before and after sunset and after showers of rain. My only advice is to be off the beach by 5pm and to follow the guidelines in our Insects article. Remember, that unless one of your family are amongst that tiny group of unfortunate people who suffer serious reaction to sand fly bites, it's a problem that can easily be controlled by regular application of deterrent and of antihistimine cream on the bites. No problem!

Paul Tallet · Post by **Paul Tallet** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 8:42 am

Hi Graeme

All the coral sand beaches do not appear to have sandflies, such as the ones that you have frequented in the past.

Sandfly seem to be mostly associated with beaches on the edge of the rainforest ... this would apply to tropical beaches around the world as well as Tobago.

They do tend to come out late in the day but I have been bitten in the mornings which can be bad where the local workers come to sweep the leaves off the beach and rake the sand ... which seems to wake up the sandflies and they look for breakfast !!

Regards

Jane H · Post by **Jane H** » Tue Nov 16, 2004 9:27 pm

Hi Paul,

Several years ago, while visiting the Maldives, I got some really nasty sandfly bites. At the time I was advised that, in order to minimise the risk of bites in future, I should either walk along beaches in the shallow water, or in the soft sand at the top of the beach because the sandflies were most prevalent in the damp sand just at the waters edge.

Since then, I've always tried to follow that advice - and (touch wood) haven't had any real problems with sandfly bites. (And, yes, the advice worked when we were in Tobago last time.)

Jane

Paul Tallet · Post by **Paul Tallet** » Tue Nov 16, 2004 10:50 pm

Hi Jane

It seems that you cannot win against these nasty sandflies.

I couple of years ago in Tobago, I went on a barbecue trip to a deserted bay near Castara and, having already lost vast quantities of my life blood to these things, I went and sat in the river.

Thought that would stump them !!

During the following night it became clear that a vicious gand of sandflies gave me no less than 30 bites around the bits above water !!

The only way for me is to stand in the sea up the neck and swat the swines off my head ... they do fly you know !!

But I am surprised to hear that you got them in the Maldives where there is plenty of coral sand ... maybe there are variant species all around the world?

Regards and still searching for answers ...

Graeme Fraser · Post by **Graeme Fraser** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 1:54 am

Steve, Jill - sorry for my erroneous reference to "Erica". I guess I have Erica on my mind, I just wish I knew whom Erica is

Thanks everyone for your advice on sandflies. I do agree that in my own experience, sandflies are more prevalent at beaches where there is foliage, or perhaps more importantly - shade, close to the beach. For example, Las Cuevas beach in Trinidad is pretty bad, whereas Maracas Bay (Trinidad), Store Bay and Pigeon Point are unshaded, and seemingly fine.

Following that logic, I guess I should beware of sandflies at Castara.

Graeme

Jane H · Post by **Jane H** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 9:10 pm

Hi Paul,

It's no good - you seem to have that certain something that makes you totally irresistable to sandflies!

You'll have to work out what it is - so the rest of us can avoid it!

Jane

Paul Tallet · Post by **Paul Tallet** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 9:49 pm

Hi Jane

I would of course be prepared , for a substantial fee plus travelling expenses, to accompany anyone to Tobago as a sandfly decoy !!!

No pain ... no gain !!