Sandflies

The kids and I went to Muara beach last Thursday. We had a nice time playing in the sand, chasing after small crabs, and playing at the playground, totally oblivious of these very small blood suckers.

Well, we learned about them the hard way. The small red bumps came out yesterday, but I was not bothered because they weren't any worse than mosquito bites, and we felt fine.

But today the bumps look angrier. Worse, they're really, really itchy. Poor kids!

I just found out that these bugs breed in swampy or estuarine conditions. It's just strange that I've been to numerous beaches in the Philippines, Korea, even Hawaii, but I've never experienced being bitten by these damn sandflies.

Note to self: Thou shall not forget thy Off lotion!