23 species of blood-sucking flies discovered by ZSI scientists in A&N

In a groundbreaking study, 23 species of blood-sucking flies belonging to the Culicoides genus were identified by researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Among these, 13 species were registered for the first time in India.
Recently published in the prestigious international journal ‘Parasites and Vectors’, these findings are the first comprehensive survey of these pests in the archipelago.
These small insects, known locally as “Bhusi flies,” though similar in appearance to flies, their feeding habits more closely resemble mosquitoes.
They drink the blood mainly of livestock such as sheep, goats, and cattle, as well as wild animals such as deer.
Of particular concern, five species are known to spread the blue tongue disease virus, which can be fatal to livestock and causes significant economic losses to the animal husbandry sector.
Studies conducted in 2022 and 2023 showed that of the 23 species identified, 17 are known to bite humans, although the researchers assure that no human disease transmission has been reported so far.