Sun Jan 19 05:00:44 UTC 2025: **Headline: 23 Blood-Sucking Fly Species Discovered in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Five Potentially Carry Deadly Virus**
**Byline:** The Hindu
**Dateline:** Guwahati, January 19, 2025
Researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have identified 23 species of blood-sucking flies, or midges, in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, with 13 being new to the country. The findings, published in *Parasites and Vectors*, represent the first comprehensive survey of these Culicoides flies in the archipelago.
The study, conducted in 2022 and 2023, involved trapping 3,529 adult flies. Of particular concern are five species that can transmit the bluetongue virus, a potentially fatal disease for livestock, causing symptoms such as blue tongue discoloration, fever, and swelling. This poses a significant threat to the region’s agricultural economy. Seventeen of the identified species are known to bite humans, although no human disease transmission has yet been reported.
ZSI Director Dr. Dhriti Banerjee emphasized the need for regular surveillance and control measures given the presence of these virus-carrying flies and the islands’ importance as a tourist destination. Dr. Atanu Naskar, officer in charge of ZSI’s Diptera section, called for a systematic survey of the entire archipelago to better understand the insects’ role in disease transmission. Researchers believe more species may exist in unexplored areas and are conducting further population and genetic studies. The discovery brings the total number of known Culicoides species in India to 93. The Culicoides genus is known to vector numerous viruses, protozoans, and nematodes, impacting livestock, wildlife, and humans.
First Piper 