Sandfleas, No-See-Ums and Gnats in Beaufort

It seems that wherever you go, whatever you do, the sand flea is your constant companion.
So much so, that the term "The Beaufort Salute" is now the Beaufort areas official phrase describing the motion of repelling sand fleas. The sand flea is Beaufort's most popular unwanted guest. Many names are given to this micro vampire, such as No-see-ums,
punkies, gnats and numerous other four letter words I won't mention. It is hard to believe an insect only 1/10th of an inch in size is capable of such an annoying bite. The bite of a sand flea is actually a sting and the effects can be felt for hours. A small reddish or whitish welt,
about the size of a freckle is a sure sign you have become a sand fleas feast.
Often, one encounters hundreds of sand fleas at one time and will receive many bites...
as the sand flea loves to share its meal with all its many hungry friends.
Sand flea dinner time is most of the time, especially around the morning and evening hours.
Their tiny size allows the sand flea to enter homes through the smallest of window screens.
Incandescent lights seem to attract larger numbers of sand flea into homes.
Sand flea encounters are most often around marsh and sandy areas, although they seem to be plentiful everywhere else. If you have many tiny insects swarming around you, and can hardly see them... you are about to become dinner for the sand flea.

When magnified, the sand flea somewhat resembles
a midget mosquito, only with a shorter mouth stinger,
more like a horse flies stinger in appearance.
The sand flea has a dark body, brown colored legs
and its wings are translucent with gray and brown splotches, appearing whitish brown when flying.
Large groups are most often seen, buzzing around in tight circles, around the head and arms.

adult sand flea copyright 1998; R.J. Sorensen
Adult sand flea

sand flea eggs :copyright 1998; R.J. Sorensen
Sand flea strings (eggs)

The sand flea begins its life from an egg
laid by the adult female. In fact, more than five million eggs can be laid on just one acre. Eggs are laid in the spring and fall around areas such as marsh pools,
decaying vegetation and plants or really anywhere water is present.
The eggs are laid in strings.

In about 4 or 5 days, the eggs hatch into "larva", which look somewhat like a tiny eel. The larva move around by wiggling around, like twitching.
They feed upon tiny aquatic animals.

Soon the larva changes into "pupa"
which float in the water in a vertical position, like a fishing cork. The larva and pupa
are a good food source for small predators
such as frogs, birds, insects, crabs and fish.
After about a week, mature sand fleas emerge
and begin to fly. Even though there
seems to be an endless number of sand fleas buzzing around, over 90% of them are eaten by predators. When birds are seen flying low and quickly turning back and forth, they are usually feeding on insects, most likely... sand fleas.