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Roatan and Bay Islands Discussion List Archive
| Posted On: | 26-Mar-2003 |
| From: | margaret smith [masmith0.....ca] |
| Subject: | Re: [roatan] Sandflies |
Sven, I had a lot of curiosity about the sandflies. Mostly because I am used to going to places like jamaica, barbados for vacation, where the bugs don't 'bug' you. Also, I come from Alberta Canada where we hardly ever see a mosquito. We signed up for this trip to Roatan with our Scuba class, and when we did some research, heard a lot about the noseeums (sandflies). Because I was hearing so much, I figured they must be bad. But at least I'll be prepared. However, I have heard that they put (sprayed?) nematodes into the area, and they are supposed to eat the sandflies. Apparently by the time we are there (this saturday) the sandflies are supposed to be less bothersome. You seem to be very knowledgeable in this area, just wondering what you know about nematodes. By the way, I am going prepared with my repellent and benadryl, and plan to concentrate on diving and ignore the bugs! Regards, Margaret ----- Original Message ----- From: Sven Zoerner To: Judy Ann Blake Cc: Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2003 2:21 AM Subject: Re: [roatan] Sandflies > Hello Judy, > > Rethink what I said once again: > > 1) Sandflies donīt have anything to with Sand. But if you wash of the > sand after a walk on the beach or whatever you wash of pheromones and > other body produced scents which attract the biting midges. > Aswell as you cool down your body which reduces the amount of CO2 (Carbon Dioxid) > which is produced. > By the way, Allison, the Carbon Dioxid Attraction is of cause right, > but it is only a part of "Finding Prey" for the sandflies. > But nevertheless: "Donīt forget to breath :-)" > > 2) Avoiding Beach and Sand means also staying in more "civilized" > areas of the Island. I donīt think that you have been hiking through > the mangroves and fernwoods, Caribean Dry Forest, or Wetsavanna > especially in the middayheat or or on sunset after a very hot and > exhausting day. If you stay in the town or in a cultivated property > there want be much sandflys. Probably there are more on the beach, > were the next "wild" area is nearer than at the places the humans > normaly stay on Roatan, Utila or Guanaja. > If you would try hiking through the wilder areas you probably would have > even more problems with the sandflies. > > > 3) Sandflys are very small. If there is no breeze this means two > important things to somebody who is that small and needs to find a > moving prey: > A)You want be blown away from the breeze, so it is easier to find a > place to get some blood. > B)The breeze is not there to hide away the signs of your prey: > Bodytemperature, CO2 Gradient(Direction), Pheromone and Scents > gradients. > > So no wonder: If there is no breeze it is easier to bite for a biting > midge. > > -- > with kind regards > Sven Zoerner > mailto:s.a.z.....de > > > > > > > > > Your own Online Store Selling our Overstock. | |
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