Editing Sandfly (section)

==Cultural views==

[[New Zealand]] sandflies (which are taxonomically blackflies—[[Simuliidae]]) have a native [[Māori mythology|Māori]] legend wherein "the god Tu-te-raki-whanoa had just finished creating the landscape of [[Fiordland]], it was absolutely stunning... so stunning that it stopped people from working. They just stood around gazing at the beauty instead. The goddess [[Hine-nui-te-pō]] became angry at these unproductive people, so she created the sandfly to bite them and get them moving".<ref>[http://www.igougo.com/story-s1348575-New_Zealand-Sandflies.html Sandflies – New Zealand – IgoUgo – stomps]. IgoUgo (2008-06-04). Retrieved on 2011-06-15.</ref>

These sand flies were able, according to another Māori legend, to revive the dead hero [[Hatupatu|Ha-tupatu]].<ref>[http://www.maori.org.nz/korero/default.asp?pid=sp62&parent=55 Ha-tupatu and the sand flies]. Maori.org.nz. Retrieved on 2011-06-15.</ref>

<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">
File:Indonesian sandfly bites on leg.jpg|alt=Bites on thigh from sandfly|Indonesian sandfly bites on leg
File:SandFlyBite.JPG|Sandfly bite
File:Sandflies GeorgesRiverNationalPark.jpg|A swarm of sandflies at [[Georges River National Park]] ([[Australia]])
</gallery>