B.C. by Mastroianni and Hart for October 26, 2023

Yes, yes they are.

They can also cause parasitic skin infections.

Nature is out to get you……….

Why did the sand flea go to the doctor?

Because it was feeling a little crabby!

What did one sand flea say to the other?

Long time no sea!

How do sand fleas like to dance?

They do the sand-reggae!

The water asked the sand if it could touch it ?

The sand said, “Shore.”

Last night, taking a walk on the beach… Came across a police car stuck in the sand about 3 feet from the water…I asked the driver what happened…

He said the police were expecting a crime wave.

Just keeping us on our toes!

Welcome to Dad joke central.

Let me see , sand fleas in the sand , then sharks in the water , why go at all ?

Sand fleas rank right up there with mosquitos and chiggers on my list of critters I don’t like.

the last panel looks like a chance to play “connect the dots”…

Remember the time in “The D.I.” when Drill Instructor Jack Webb had the platoon of boots dig up a sand flea’s body and asked them to identify what gender it was? Classic.

Come for the beautiful beaches.

Stay for the leishmaniasis.

Who is he yelling at?

Nice to have a friend to talk to……….and vent!

Sand fleas are not a thing in Canada. Who out there in GoComics is bothered by sand fleas?

To make Marines meaner.

A parasitic skin disease spread by sand flies that was once only linked to international travel is no longer considered an “imported” disease in the U.S.

Called cutaneous leishmaniasis, the disfiguring condition resulting from sand fly bites has now evolved into a form unique to the American South. The disease can be difficult to diagnose.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis has been diagnosed in 86 people in the U.S. in the past decade who had not traveled internationally, the CDC researchers reported. They used genetic sequencing tools to analyze tissue samples from infected people to determine that the non-travelers had a unique version of the disease, meaning it was being spread by local fly populations.

https://www webmd com/skin-problems-and-treatments/news/20231020/biting-sand-flies-are-spreading-skin-scarring-parasite-us

Fleas have fleas, and small thing that bite ’em. And so on, and so on. Ad infinitum.

The Gods are capricious, and they have a nasty sense of humor.

There are at least five different animals colloquially called “sand flea”. This is probably referring to the biting midges in genus Culicoides that pester Marine recruits on Parris Island, SC.

“aaaaa-TACK!” [slap slap slap slap slap slap….]

Yes. I am.

My wife and I tried this together ;) … Not our best idea!

Their Sandkings from The Outer Limits University.

New Zealanders say you’ll get used to them eventually

No-see-ums are worse.