It is hardly visible to the naked eye - tinier than a mosquito. Known as the ho-haputuwa or weli-messa in local parlance, the sandfly is the vector that transmits the leishmaniases parasite which looks like "a dash and a dot" when put under the microscope.
There's a reason prisoners of war and hostages consider sleep deprivation a form of torture. When deprived of our rest, we tend to become particularly vulnerable; our judgement and ability to reason is affected, even as we experience a simultaneous decline in motor functions. When pushed to its limits, our brain begins to hallucinate and zone out, and we can crumble under the strain.
