When the weather warms up, they can annoy us with their very distinctive buzzing in flight (at least most of them), and especially with their bites that cause itching... Recognize them? That’s right—mosquitoes, and their cousins, sandflies.
Sand Flies and Mosquitoes: Key Differences
While both mosquitoes and sandflies are blood-feeding biting insects in their adult stage, they differ significantly. Their anatomy sets them apart: sandflies are much smaller than mosquitoes (they’re almost invisible to the naked eye), they’re hairy, and their wings stand upright on their backs. Mosquitoes, on the other hand, have long antennae and their wings lie flat against their bodies when at rest. Additionally, though sandflies have been migrating northward in recent years, they primarily inhabit the Mediterranean region. Mosquitoes, however, are found across all of France. Sandflies don’t require highly humid areas to complete their life cycle, whereas mosquitoes—except for the tiger mosquito—need bodies of water: they lay their eggs on the surface, and larvae and pupae develop there. Both sandflies and mosquitoes, with the exception of the notorious day-biting tiger mosquito, are mostly active at night.
Mosquitoes and sandflies can cause itching, allergies, or transmit diseases to our dogs.
Leishmaniasis
When carrying the parasite, sand flies can transmit *Leishmania infantum*. This protozoan causes leishmaniasis, a disease that can also affect humans. Once inoculated, it may trigger various symptoms that take between 6 months and 3 to 4 years to appear. Symptoms vary and include
- General: fever, severe fatigue, and muscle wasting;
- Cutaneous: hair loss around the eyes, ears, and neck is often observed, along with deep skin infections or ulcers. Claw abnormalities are also frequently reported;
- Ocular: such as conjunctivitis, keratitis (corneal inflammation), or glaucoma;
- Urinary: kidney lesions;
- Digestive.
Even when they are not carriers, sandflies can be a nuisance: their bites are painful, and the resulting bumps cause quite noticeable itching.
Dirofilariasis
Mosquito bites are significantly less painful than those from sandflies, and the reactions they cause are generally much milder (except in cases of allergy). That said, mosquitoes can still bother our four-legged friends by transmitting various diseases—if they carry them—caused by parasites or even viruses. In France, the main risk for dogs is dirofilariasis. This disease is caused by a roundworm, *Dirofilaria*. The most well-known in dogs is likely *D. immitis*, also called the "heartworm."
These two conditions share one thing: they’re tough to treat. Your vet can suggest preventive measures—talk to them about it.
