What's eating you? sand flies.

As thousands of Americans descended upon Brazil for the Olympic games in the summer of 2016, the mosquito-borne Zika virus became a source of great concern among the countless athletes and travelers in Rio. As is often the case, the media frenzy that ensued drew travelers' attention away from a lesser known flying vector that often carries with it grave consequences. The Phlebotominae, commonly known as sand flies, are biting insects known for their ability to transmit the protozoa Leishmania as well as a number of other viruses and bacteria. As the impact of sand flies continues to grow in the United States and worldwide, knowledge of the vector is important for proper treatment and prevention of the diseases they carry.