In a ground-breaking study, researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) identified 23 species of blood-sucking flies from the Culicoides genus in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, with 13 species being recorded for the first time in India. The findings, published in the prominent international journal ‘Parasites and Vectors’, are the first thorough survey of these insects in the archipelago.

These small insects, known locally as “Bhusi flies” have the look of flies but eat more like mosquitoes. They primarily feed on the blood of livestock (sheep, goats, and cattle) as well as wild animals (deer). Five species are known to transmit the Blue Tongue Disease virus, which can kill animals and inflict major economic losses to the animal husbandry industry.

The study, which was done in 2022 and 2023, discovered that 17 of the 23 species examined are known to bite humans, though researchers promise that no human disease transmission has been observed thus far. Dr. Atanu Naskar, Officer-in-Charge of ZSI’s Diptera department, believes that a comprehensive assessment of the entire archipelago is required to better understand these insects’ involvement in disease transmission.

Blue Tongue Disease, spread by these flies, causes symptoms such as blue coloring of the tongue, fever, facial edema, and excessive salivation, which can lead to death in infected animals. The disease has a substantial impact on cattle farming and the agricultural economy.

This discovery emphasizes the need for improved vector surveillance and control measures in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to protect livestock and the tourism industry. The research team is working to better understand these insects and their potential effects on the region’s ecosystem and public health.

Priyanka Dutta