Sergentomyia gobica sp. n. (Diptera, Phlebotominae)--a new species of sandfly from the Mongolian People's Republic

17 males and 7 females of Sergentomyia (Parrotomyia) gobica sp. n. were collected in Tsubulur-Khara-Nuru mountains (Bayan-Khongor region) of the Mongolian People's Republic in August of 1980 and in July of 1982. The new species is similar to S. (Parr.) sumbarica (Perfiliew), 1933.     

Phlebotomine sandflies from Madagascar (Diptera: Psychodidae). V--description of Sergentomyia majungaensis n. sp

Sergentomyia majungaensis, a new species of Phlebotomine sandfly, is described from Madagascar. The female is characterised by an unusual antennal formula (1/IV-V to VII; 2/VI to VIII-XV) and smooth and narrow spermathecae, with a common duct, whose shape is intermediate between Sergentomyia and Parrotomyia subgenera. The male has the same antennal formula than Grassomyia (1/IV-XV) but no hairs on the mesanepistern and a longer third antennal segment.     

中国白蛉亚科数值分类研究（双翅目: 毛蠓科）

【目的】 对中国白蛉亚科（Phlebotominae）昆虫进行数值分类研究, 探索其在系统发育过程中的亲缘关系。【方法】 选取中国白蛉40个蛉种作为分类单元以及白蛉的68项形态特征为分类指标, 进行系统聚类分析。【结果】 聚类分析结果与传统属级及白蛉属Phlebotomus的亚属级分类一致。司蛉属Sergentomyia的亚属分类与传统分类有一些区别, 聚类分析将司蛉属分为8类, 其中尼克组nicnic group与司蛉亚属subgenus Sergentomyia和传统分类一致; 泉州司蛉S. quanzhouensis和唐氏司蛉S. tangi聚入帕蛉亚属subgenus Parrotomyia; 尹氏司蛉S. yini聚入新蛉亚属subgenus Neophlebotomus, 应氏司蛉S. iyengari、马来司蛉S. malayensis、吐鲁番司蛉S. turfanensis、兰州司蛉S. lanzhouensis和南京司蛉S. nankingensis聚为一类; 歌乐山司蛉S. koloshanensis、方亮司蛉S. fanglianensis和云南司蛉S. yunnanensis与尼克组nicnic group聚成一类, 此类群和此属中其他蛉种系统发育关系距离远。【结论】 中国白蛉亚科昆虫的聚类分析结果与传统分类基本一致, 验证了传统分类系统的可靠性, 并揭示了传统分类中一些蛉种不确定分类问题。司蛉属聚类分析结果与传统分类有差别, 提示有个别蛉种需重新考虑其分类地位。     

A study of phlebotomine sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Yunnan Province, China. Sergentomyia (Sergentomyia) wangi n. sp

Among the phlebotomine sandflies collected in a lime-stone cave of 21 degrees 42' N, 10 degrees 23' E and 700 m above sea level on 14th August, Mengyuan, Mengla County, Xishuangbanna District, Yunnan Province, two males of the group fallax of subgenus Sergentomyia are quite different in morphology with those hitherto recorded in the literature. In the present paper its morphology is described with seven figures and the name Sergentomyia wangi is proposed in honor of professor Chao-Tsun Wang for his contribution in study and control of leishmaniasis in China.     

Bionomics of phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in the province of Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia

The bionomics of phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) were studied for two successive years (January 1996-December 1997) at 12 collecting stations representing six sectors of the province of Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia. The predominant species was Phlebotomus bergeroti (41.7%), followed by lesser numbers of Phlebotomus sergenti (11%), Phlebotomus arabicus (10.6%), Sergentomyia tiberiadis (10.5%), Phlebotomus papatasi (10.2%), Sergentomyia antennata (9.6%), Phlebotomus alexandri (3%), Phlebotomus orientalis (2.3%) and Sergentomyia clydei (1.1%). The distribution of the collected species including species that are elsewhere known to act as vectors of human cutaneous leishmaniasis were distributed across different altitudes in Al-Baha. P. bergeroti, P. papatasi and P. arabicus were more abundant indoors; however, P. sergenti was more abundant outdoors. Sand fly populations exhibited three patterns of seasonal abundance in terms of their monthly activity. P. bergeroti, P. sergenti and P. arabicus were found to be naturally infected with Leishmania-like flagellates at an infection rate of 0.2%.     

Phlebotomine sandflies from Madagascar (Diptera: Psychodidae). IV--Description of Sergentomyia (Rondanomyia) goodmani n. sp. Reinstatement of the subgenus Rondanomyia Theodor

This work is the fourth related to species recently described from Madagascar. The authors describe Sergentomyia goodmani on females and males. The female has tubular spermathecae with internal spines. It has an aspect, in Canada balsam, of transversally striped spermatheca, without being completely segmented. The spermathecal ducts share a proximal common part. The pharynx is narrow. The cibarial armature is comb-like. Based on these characters, the authors consider that S. goodmani belongs to the subgenus Rondanomyia. They reinstate this subgenus and consider Neophlebotomus sensu Lewis, 1977 as invalid. Considering Grassomyia as a genus, this is the first record of Sergentomyia in Madagascar.     

A STUDY OF PHLEBOTOMINE SANDFLIES IN YUNAN PROVINCE lV. SERGENTOMYIA (NEOPHLEBOTOMVS) WEEH. M SP. NOV. (DIPTERA: PSYCHODIDAE)

Abstract In August 5–14, 1989 the authors collected many phlebotomine sandflies in natural lime-stone caves from Yiwu and Mengyuan, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province. Among them 10 species of phle-botomines were found, i.e., Idiophlebotomus longiforceps, Phlebotomus yunshpis, P. trunmcsis, P. kiangsuensis, P. stantoni, Serptomyia rudnicki, S. barraudi, S. iyngari, S. koloshanensis , and S. bailyi (He and Leng 1991). Additionally a new species of the subgenus Neophlebotomus is described as Sergentomyia (Neophlebotomus) kueichenae in honour of Professor Kueichen Li.     

Phlebotomine sandflies from Madagascar (Diptera: Psychodidae). VI--A new subgenus (Vattieromyia) including three new species: Sergentomyia (V.) sclerosiphon, S. (V.) namo and S. (V.) anka

Three new species of Phlebotomine sandflies belonging to the genus Sergentomyia Fran?a & Parrot are described from Madagascar: Sergentomyia sclerosiphon n. sp. S. namo n. sp. and S. anka n. sp. The taxa are created on the basis of the morphology of females. The males of S. sclerosiphon n. sp. and of S. anka n. sp. have been associated to the females according to the homologies of a fragment of the mtDNA cytochrome b sequences. The original morphology of the spermathecae and the sclerification of a part of the individual spermathecal ducts allow the creation of a new subgenus, Vattieromyia subg. nov., which includes these three new species.     

Lutzomyia derelicta (Diptera: Psychodidae) a singular new phlebotomine sand fly from an Inselberg in Northeastern Amazonia.

Lutzomyia derelicta n. sp. is described from specimens collected in an isolated xeric habitat in the rainforest in the north of the State of Pará, Brazil. The new species lacks the posterior bulge in the dorsal wall of the cibarium characteristic of the New World genus Lutzomyia, and the armature of the male genitalia is of the pattern found elsewhere only in the Old World species of Sergentomyia. L. derelicta is phenetically intermediate between the known species of Lutzomyia and Sergentomyia, and cannot readily be placed in any existing subgenus or species group of either genus.     

The roles of Phlebotomus martini and P. celiae (Diptera: Phlebotominae) as vectors of visceral leishmaniasis in the Aba Roba focus, southern Ethiopia

Abstract. During field studies (December 1988 to April 1990) to determine the vectors of visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) in the Aba Roba (Segen Valley) focus of southern Ethiopia, a total of 40,770 sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) were collected and identified as six species of Phlebotomus and seventeen Sergentomyia spp. Nine of these species were anthropophilic (four Phlebotomus and five Sergentomyia spp.), the dominant being Phlebotomus (Synphlebotomus) martini, P.(S.)celiae and Sergentomyia (Sergentomyia) schwetzi. P. celiae adult populations increased during the rainy season. Of 2326 P. martini and 1044 P. celiae dissected, the parous rate was 29.9% and 24.4%, respectively. Leishmania promastigotes were detected in sixteen P. martini (eleven identified as L. donovani by isoenzyme analysis and/or a DNA probe) and in three P. celiae (two identified by DNA probe), giving overall infection rates of 0.7% (1.9% parous infection rate) and 0.3% (1.2% parous infection rate), respectively. Four isolates from P. martini were typed by their isoenzyme profile as L. donovani zymodeme MON-37 = LON-44, identical to one of the zymodemes isolated from patients in this focus. This is the first evidence that P. celiae is a vector and the first time that P. martini has been implicated in Ethiopia. Based on observations of abundance, seasonality and prevalence of infection of the two Synphlebotomus spp., it is concluded that P. martini is the major vector and P. celiae a secondary vector in the Aba Roba focus. The risk of infection with L. donovani is greatest during the wet season.     

First record of Phlebotomine sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in the Comoros Archipelago with description of Sergentomyia (Vattieromyia) pessoni n. sp. and S. (Rondanomyia) goodmani comorensis n. ssp

No Phlebotomine sandflies had ever been reported in the Comoros Archipelago, including the three islands of the Republic of the Union of Comoros (Grande Comore, Mohéli and Anjouan) and the French oversea department of Mayotte. During three field surveys carried out in 2003, 2007 and 2011, we provided the first record of Phlebotomine sandflies in this area. A total of 85 specimens belonging to three species were caught: a new species S. (Vattieromyia) pessoni n. sp. (two females from Grande Comore), a new subspecies of Sergentomyia (Rondanomyia) goodmani (80 specimens from Grande Comore and one from Anjouan) and Grassomyia sp. (two females from Mohéli). The individualisation of these taxa was inferred both from morphological criteria and sequencing of a part of the cytochrome b of the mitochondrial DNA. These taxa are closely related to Malagasy sandflies.     

Cutaneous leishmaniasis in western Sicily (Italy) and preliminary survey of phlebotomine sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae)

A survey of phlebotomine sandflies was carried out in two provinces of western Sicily (Italy), where 65 cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) had been diagnosed by the Dermatology Department of the University of Palermo, between 1977 and 1987. Eight collecting stations, distributed throughout the CL foci of the Agrigento and Palermo provinces produced a total of 2,410 specimens (12.78% males). Of these, 77.59% were Phlebotomus perfiliewi, 12.78% P. perniciosus, 0.74% P. major and 2.07% Sergentomyia minuta. P. perfiliewi, the probable vector of CL, was present in 7 out of the 8 collecting stations with very high densities in two localities.     

The role of Palmyra palm trees (Borassus flabellifer) and sand fly distribution in northeastern India

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), known as Kala-azar in India, is a parasite transmitted by the bite of the sand fly vector Phlebotomus argentipes. Published information on the species indicates it is a poor flyer, mainly hopping and gliding. This study describes the vector as more arboreal than previously documented. Data collected indicate the ability of P. argentipes and Sergentomyia spp to attain vertical heights in Palmyra palm trees Borassus flabellifer up to 18.4 m above ground level. To determine if sand flies were either climbing the tree trunk to rest in the canopy or flying, sticky traps were set around the tree trunk and checked for captures overnight. CDC traps set in the palm tree canopy resulted in the capture of 5,067 sand flies, 3,990 of which were P. argentipes. Traps were set during daylight hours to determine if sand flies remained and rested in the canopy. A total of 128 sand flies were trapped over 29 trap days in the palm trees. With the CDC traps, 130 P. argentipes and no Sergentomyia spp were captured. The converse was true for the sticky traps set around tree trunks 3 m below the CDC traps. Of the 105 sand flies collected, only one was P. argentipes and 104 were Sergentomyia spp. As reported elsewhere, this indicates Sergentomyia spp tend to climb and hop, wheareas P. argentipes are capable of longer and more sustained flight. Data presented herein suggest that P. argentipes is more exophylic and exophagic than previously reported. These findings have implications for sand fly control.     

Distribution and altitudinal structuring of phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in southern Anatolia, Turkey: their relation to human cutaneous leishmaniasis.

The two Old World genera, Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia, were both recorded in southern Anatolia in Turkey. Phlebotomus species predominated and comprised about 93% of the entire collection (3,172 specimens). Out of the sixteen species identified, two belonged to the genus Sergentomyia: S. dentata and S. theodori. The remaining fourteen species in the genus Phlebotomus were grouped under four subgenera including some species that are elsewhere known to act as vectors of human cutaneous leishmaniasis. Most of the Phlebotomus were P. tobbi (32.5%), but P. papatasi, P. transcaucasicus, P. halepensis, P. galilaeus, P. sergenti, P. syriacus, P. neglectus, P. simici, P. alexandri, P. similis, P jacusieli, P. perfiliewi, and P. brevis were also identified. There were two associations of sand fly fauna with altitudinal gradient; the first one at relatively higher altitudes and the second one at lower altitudes. The transition between these two assemblages was within the range of 800-1,000 m. It is likely that Adana and Hatay provinces are transitional areas between western and eastern Anatolia. Mountains do not appear to be important geographical barriers for sand fly distribution. We also found that the proven vector P. sergenti is a widely distributed species throughout southern Anatolia and this species, together with its closely related species P. similis, shows sympatry in Konya Province.     

Phlebotomines of the Isle of Cyprus. III. Species inventory

Three surveys on canine leishmaniasis were carried out in Cyprus (1993, 1998 and 1999) emphasise the presence of eleven species of phlebotomine sandflies: Phlebotomus (Phlebotomus) papatasi, P. (Paraphlebotomus) alexandri, P. (Pa.) jacusieli (first mention in Cyprus), P. (Pa.) sergenti, P. (Larroussius) galilaeus, P. (L.) tobbi, P. (Transphlebotomus) economidesi, P. (T.) mascittii, Sergentomyia (Sergentomyia) azizi (its specific statute is validated by the authors), S. (S.) fallax et S. (S.) minuta. P. (Adlerius) kyreniae was not caught during the surveys. The authors propose hypothesis of settlement of the island by phlebotomine sandflies according this species inventory. A first migration period took probably place during the Miocene time and a second one during the Pleistocene time.     

An experimental study of the interrelations of Leishmania (Sauroleishmania) gymnodactyli and the sandfly Sergentomyia arpaklensis (Diptera: Phlebotominae)

Morphology, development and behaviour of Leishmania gymnodactyli in the sand fly Sergentomyia arpaklensis at different stages of blood digestion have been studied. It has been shown that leishmaniae reproduce readily and develop normally inside the food ball of sandflies. The dense peritrophic membrane is not destroyed at the end of digestion and is an insuperable obstacle for leishmaniae. Promastigotes of leishmaniae, being involved in the peritrophic membrane, are excreted together with undigested food that excludes their transmission through the bite of S. arpaklensis.     

Species composition and nocturnal activity of phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) inhabiting a limestone cave in Thailand

We investigated the nocturnal activity of cave‐dwelling sand flies at different time intervals and determined their species composition and seasonal variation. Sand flies were captured on one night each month using CDC light traps from 18:00–06:00 with the collecting bag being changed every two h between February, 2010 and January, 2011. A total of 18,709 individuals, including 10,740 males and 7,969 females, was collected. The overall ratio between male and female specimens was 1:0.74. The collected specimens included 14 species from four genera, Chinius, Idiophlebotomus, Phlebotomus, and Sergentomyia. Sergentomyia phadangensis was the most abundant species (comprising 31.9% of the collected individuals), followed by Se. anodontis (22.8%) and Ph. mascomai (18.2%). The highest number of specimens was collected in July (15.6%), followed by May (15.5%) with the peak of collection recorded at the time interval of 00:01–02:00, followed by 22:01–00:00. However, there were no significant differences observed among time intervals of sand fly collections (p=0.154). Observations of the nocturnal activity of male and female sand flies throughout the night suggest that phlebotomine sand flies show the greatest activity level after midnight.     

Distribution,species composition and relative abundances of sandflies in North Waziristan Agency,Pakistan

This study was conducted to investigate the diversity of sandflies (Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) and the incidence of leishmaniasis in three villages of North Waziristan Agency, Pakistan. Sandflies were sampled monthly during 2012, at dusk and dawn, in selected indoor habitats including both bedrooms and animal sheds using a knock‐down spray catch method. A total of 3687 sandflies were collected, including 1444 individuals in Drezanda, 1193 in Damdil and 1050 in Dattakhel. This study revealed 14 species of two genera, Phlebotomus (Phlebotomus sergenti, Phlebotomus papatasi, Phlebotomus caucasicus, Phlebotomus kazeruni, Phlebotomus alexandri and Phlebotomus salehi) and Sergentomyia (Sergentomyia dentate, Sergentomyia baghdadis, Sergentomyia babu, Sergentomyia theodori, Sergentomyia sumbarica, Sergentomyia dreyfussitur kestanica, Sergentomyia hogsoni pawlowskyi and Sergentomyia fallax afghanica) (both: Diptera: Psychodidae). Phlebotomus sergenti was the most abundant species (42.1%), followed by S. dentata (17.7%) and S. baghdadis (17.4%). The number of males collected represented about twice that of female flies, and the maximum number was collected in July, followed by August. The determination of the species composition of sandfly populations, seasonal variations, relative abundances and estimations of infection in the vector population may provide information about the dynamics of leishmaniasis transmission that is useful in planning vector control activities.     

Limits of a rapid identification of common Mediterranean sandflies using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism

A total of 131 phlebotomine Algerian sandflies have been processed in the present study. They belong to the species Phlebotomus bergeroti, Phlebotomus alexandri, Phlebotomus sergenti, Phlebotomus chabaudi, Phlebotomus riouxi, Phlebotomus perniciosus, Phlebotomus longicuspis, Phlebotomus perfiliewi, Phlebotomus ariasi, Phlebotomus chadlii, Sergentomyia fallax, Sergentomyia minuta, Sergentomyia antennata, Sergentomyia schwetzi, Sergentomyia clydei, Sergentomyia christophersi and Grassomyia dreyfussi. They have been characterised by sequencing of a part of the cytochrome b (cyt b), t RNA serine and NADH1 on the one hand and of the cytochrome C oxidase I of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) on the other hand. Our study highlights two sympatric populations within P. sergenti in the area of its type-locality and new haplotypes of P. perniciosus and P. longicuspis without recording the specimens called lcx previously found in North Africa. We tried to use a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method based on a combined double digestion of each marker. These method is not interesting to identify sandflies all over the Mediterranean Basin.