Something I'm curious about but never got around to asking..
Prior to visiting Fiji I used to browse this branch (about 2 years ago) and came across quite a few references to problems with sand flies or whatever. Having also seen the state of several participants in the various 'survival' reality shows on TV, I thought I was going to be in for some big problems.
Yet, after 2 months' traveling around (August and September) the problem was zero. No bites, nothing.
At the time, it only seemed common sense that, when walking along a beach at low tide and the sand itself seemed to spring up around my feet, it was not a good idea to lay down there. So I spent most of my lazing-around time in a hammock, not laying on the ground/sand.
So, was the supposed problem not really a problem? Or did the hammock solve it? Or the time of year?
As far as fleas on the beach, the hammock did the trick. they are in the sand, usually from animals, and if you are off the ground a bit they really can't jump that far.
As to sand flies---they are year 'round, but taper off during the cooler and drier months (in the South Pacific) of July and August.
Also, the sand flies tend to hang around popular areas where people will be eating food, and of course some gets dropped on the beach. so, on one side of One-Foot Islet in Aitutaki (Cooks), there are tons of sand flies. That is the side where the day trippers get fed their lunch. However, on the other side, there are ver few sand flies.
Orientation to the wind is another issue with sand flies. If you are on an eastern-side beach, the wind is usually stronger, as most activity weatherwise is from the SE tradewinds. Flies (and mozzies) hate flying in a breeze, so they are less evident on the east side of a small island island than on the west side, in general.
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