noun
sand flea; chigoe; chigger
A parasitic flea (Tunga penetrans) found in tropical and subtropical regions. The term 'chigoe' is the most precise English equivalent, while 'sand flea' and 'chigger' are common but can refer to other organisms.
スナノミは皮膚に潜り込む寄生虫です。
The sand flea is a parasite that burrows into the skin.
Compound of 砂 (すな, 'sand') and 蚤 (のみ, 'flea'). The exact derivation is straightforward; the kanji 蚤 is a non-jōyō character for 'flea'.