sand flea
noun
1
: a flea (such as a chigoe) found in sandy places
The so-called sand flea that people encounter on vacation beaches is nothing more than a common flea that is breeding outdoors in the soil.—
Jane E. Brody
Jane E. Brody2
: any of various amphipod crustaceans (family Talitridae) found on ocean beaches that feed on decaying organic matter, typically burrow into the sand during the day, and are capable of leaping like fleas : beach flea
These little shorebirds are generally in small groups, chasing the receding breakers on twinkling feet, probing for sand fleas and other crustaceans …—Dennis Puleston
Dennis PulestonExamples of sand flea in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Insect Repellent The mosquitos and sand fleas in the Caribbean and Mexico can be relentless, so get ahead of the bites with insect repellent.
—Jill Schildhouse, Southern Living, 27 Dec. 2024
Most of the fish are being caught on live finger mullet, shrimp, clams, sand fleas and shiny lures.
—Alan Sherman, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024
Locally they’re known as sand fleas, a name that doesn’t exactly make the mouth water.
—Lawrence Specker | Lspecker@al.com, al, 13 Aug. 2023
Along with biting insects like chiggers, black flies, sand fleas, gnats, midges, and mosquitoes, ticks can latch onto an unsuspecting hiker and infect them with an array of lethal diseases, such as Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF).
—Nancy Jo Adams, Popular Mechanics, 22 Apr. 2023
Wayne remembers taking sand flea spray to the Akins’ house, and Welling recalls picking up a portable cornhole set at her place.
—Tom Roland, Billboard, 27 Sep. 2022
Whiting continue to bite in the runouts along the beach on FishBites sand flea flavor fished on light gear; www.ateamfishing.com.
—Frank Sargeant, al, 20 Aug. 2021
Lots of pompano are still just outside the beach bar around the runouts—fish peeled shrimp with a chunk of pink FishBites scent in sand flea flavor on a double hook pompano rig to get them.
—Frank Sargeant, al, 14 May 2021
Catch the whiting and pompano on pink FishBites in the sand flea flavor, the other species on a 3 inch chrome spoon cranked fast outside the bar.
—Frank Sargeant, al, 21 May 2021
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jill Schildhouse, Southern Living, 27 Dec. 2024
Most of the fish are being caught on live finger mullet, shrimp, clams, sand fleas and shiny lures.
—Alan Sherman, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024
Locally they’re known as sand fleas, a name that doesn’t exactly make the mouth water.
—Lawrence Specker | Lspecker@al.com, al, 13 Aug. 2023
Along with biting insects like chiggers, black flies, sand fleas, gnats, midges, and mosquitoes, ticks can latch onto an unsuspecting hiker and infect them with an array of lethal diseases, such as Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF).
—Nancy Jo Adams, Popular Mechanics, 22 Apr. 2023
Wayne remembers taking sand flea spray to the Akins’ house, and Welling recalls picking up a portable cornhole set at her place.
—Tom Roland, Billboard, 27 Sep. 2022
Whiting continue to bite in the runouts along the beach on FishBites sand flea flavor fished on light gear; www.ateamfishing.com.
—Frank Sargeant, al, 20 Aug. 2021
Lots of pompano are still just outside the beach bar around the runouts—fish peeled shrimp with a chunk of pink FishBites scent in sand flea flavor on a double hook pompano rig to get them.
—Frank Sargeant, al, 14 May 2021
Catch the whiting and pompano on pink FishBites in the sand flea flavor, the other species on a 3 inch chrome spoon cranked fast outside the bar.
—Frank Sargeant, al, 21 May 2021
Dictionary Entries Near sand flea
Cite this Entry
“Sand flea.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sand%20flea. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share