Explore the vast range of titles available.

Background Checklists of zoological groups are useful to document species names in a specific area or even worldwide. They serve for various purposes, including ecological studies, conservation reports, policy and decision-making, and species identification. Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera, Psychodidae) are the vectors of pathogens such as Leishmania , Bartonella and some arboviruses (Toscana, Naples, Sicily), and checklists for sand flies have primarily been published mainly for a state, department, or country. A checklist for American sand flies was published in 2017, but, until then, no effort has been made to compile a comprehensive list of species worldwide. The present study aims to fill this gap of knowledge. Methods The present checklist is provided based on a literature overview and biological collections records and includes unpublished data from the authors. The species are presented according to the classification, then alphabetically by Eastern and Western Hemispheres. Distribution by country and type locality of each species are provided. Discussions on the taxonomic status or occurrence of each species are provided when needed. Results A total of 23 genera in the Western Hemisphere, formerly the New World ( Bichromomyia , Brumptomyia , Deanemyia , Dampfomyia, Edentomyia, Evandromyia, Expapillata, Hertigia, Lutzomyia, Martinsmyia, Micropygomyia, Migonemyia, Nyssomyia, Oligodontomyia, Pintomyia, Pressatia, Psathyromyia, Psychodopygus, Sciopemyia, Trichophoromyia, Trichopygomyia, Viannamyia , and Warileya ) and 17 genera in the Eastern Hemisphere, formerly the Old World ( Australophlebotomus, Chinius, Demeillonius, Grassomyia, Idiophlebotomus, Libanophlebotomus, Libanophlebotomites, Mesophlebotomites, Paleomyia, Parvidens, Phlebotoiella, Phlebotomiella, Phlebotomites, Phlebotomus, Sergentomyia, Spelaeomyia, Spelaeophlebotomus ), including the fossil species, are listed herein. The updated list, excluding nomina dubia / species inquirenda includes 1063 sand fly species, with 549 and 514 species for New World and Old World, respectively. Only New Zealand and the Pacific Islands (excluding New Caledonia) do not record the presence of sand flies. The dataset for this study is publicly available in the SiBBr and GBIF. Conclusions This is the first detailed list of valid names of phlebotomine sand flies worldwide, including records from each country where they have been documented. Graphical Abstract

In this study, the presence of Leishmania DNA and blood feeding sources in phlebotomine sand fly species commonly present in Sicily were investigated. A total of 1,866 female sand flies including 176 blood fed specimens were sampled over two seasons in five selected sites in Sicily (southern Italy). Sergentomyia minuta (n = 1,264) and Phlebotomus perniciousus (n = 594) were the most abundant species at all the sites, while three other species from the genus Phlebotomus (i.e., P. sergenti n = 4, P. perfiliewi n = 3 and P. neglectus n = 1) were only sporadically captured. Twenty-eight out of the 1,866 (1.5%) sand flies tested positive for Leishmania spp. Leishmania tarentolae DNA was identified in 26 specimens of S. minuta, while the DNA of Leishmania donovani complex was detected in a single specimen each of S. minuta and P. perniciosus. Interestingly, seven S. minuta specimens (0.4%) tested positive for reptilian Trypanosoma sp. Blood sources were successfully identified in 108 out of 176 blood fed females. Twenty-seven out of 82 blood sources identified in fed females of P. perniciosus were represented by blood of wild rabbit, S. minuta mainly fed on humans (16/25), while the sole P. sergenti fed specimen took a blood meal on rat. Other vertebrate hosts including horse, goat, pig, dog, chicken, cow, cat and donkey were recognized as blood sources for P. perniciosus and S. minuta, and, surprisingly, no reptilian blood was identified in blood-fed S. minuta specimens. Results of this study agree with the well-known role of P. perniciosus as vector of L. infantum in the western Mediterranean; also, vector feeding preferences herein described support the hypothesis on the involvement of lagomorphs as sylvatic reservoirs of Leishmania. The detection of L. donovani complex in S. minuta, together with the anthropophilic feeding-behaviour herein observed, warrants further research to clarify the capacity of this species in the transmission of pathogens to humans and other animals.

Phlebotomine (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) taxonomy has been studied extensively, primarily due to the role of these flies as vectors of various parasites, including species of Leishmania, Bartonella and arboviruses that cause diseases in humans and other vertebrates. We present some topics discussed at a round-table on phlebotomine taxonomy held at the Ninth International Symposium on Phlebotomine Sandflies (ISOPS IX) in Reims, France, in June 2016. To date, approximately one thousand phlebotomine species have been described worldwide, although in varying languages and mostly without standardization of characters and terminology. In the interest of standardization, we list the characters that should minimally be considered in the description of new phlebotomine taxa as well as annotated illustrations of several characters. For these characters, multiple illustrations are provided to show some of the variations. The preferred terms for all pertinent characters are listed as well as their synonyms in English, Portuguese, and French. Finally, we offer an updated list of abbreviations to be used for generic and subgeneric names.

Leishmaniasis is a zoonotic disease where parasites of the genus Leishmania are transmitted among hosts by sandfly vectors of the subfamily Phlebotominae. In Paraguay, studies on sandfly biodiversity are limited, even though the disease is present in its tegumentary and visceral forms. This pioneering ecoepidemiological study analyzes the diversity, abundance, and detection of Leishmania spp. DNA in sandflies from primary, secondary, and degraded forest habitats within the Mbaracayú Forest Biosphere Reserve. Over a year of sampling, 954 sandflies were captured, comprising 599 females and 355 males, belonging to 12 species, 10 of which are reported for the first time in Canindeyú. The species with the highest positivity for Leishmania spp. DNA were the Evandromyia cortelezzii complex (20.3%), Pintomyia monticola (18.8%), Brumptomyia brumpti (17.4%), Brumptomyia avellari (15.9%), and Psathyromyia lanei (11.6%). In contrast, Evandromyia evandroi, Micropygomyia quinquefer, Nyssomyia neivai, and Migonemyia migonei displayed rates of 4.3% or lower, while Psathyromyia shannoni complex, Brumptomyia guimaraesi, and Evandromyia termitophila were negative. The identified Leishmania species were L. amazonensis (65.2%) and L. infantum (34.8%). Additionally, dogs and their ectoparasites from an indigenous community were analyzed, detecting L. amazonensis DNA in 18 flea groups (54.5%) and one tick (16.7%). However, all dogs tested negative for the Rk39 test. This study highlights the risk of leishmaniasis transmission in forested and degraded ecosystems, which could have significant public health consequences, calling for deeper analyses to assess associated risks.

Phlebotomine sand flies are blood-sucking dipterans widely distributed in tropical and subtropical areas of the Americas and are important vectors of leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania spp. parasites and Carrion’s disease caused by the bacteria Bartonella bacilliformis . Both are a significant economic burden in rural areas and a major risk to military personnel deployed to endemic areas. To better understand transmission of these pathogens and epidemiological trends, sand flies were collected from nine sites across the Ecuador-Peru border region in 2015 and 2017 and screened for Leishmania using PCR targeting kinetoplast DNA, and Bartonella using PCR targeting the 16S-23S internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, citrate synthase ( gltA ) gene, and NADH dehydrogenase subunit G ( nuoG ) gene. A total of 548 sand flies belonging to 15 species and 2,711 sand flies belonging to 11 species were collected in Ecuador and Peru, respectively. Pintomyia (Pifanomyia) robusta was generally the most abundant species found across sites sampled in Ecuador and Peru. In the Chinchipe River basin, Pi. (Pif.) robusta , Pintomyia (Pifanomyia) maranonensis , and Lutzomyia (Helcocyrtomyia) castanea were collected on both sides in Zamora-Chinchipe, Ecuador, and Namballe, Peru. Of the 637 phlebotomine sand fly pools screened, no Leishmania positives were found; however, nine pools of Pi. (Pif.) robusta collected in Ecuador were positive for B. bacilliformis based on phylogenetic analysis of the gltA gene. One Pi. (Pif.) maranonensis from Peru and one Pi. (Pif.) robusta from Ecuador were positive for Bartonella DNA sequences that were close to Candidatus Bartonella rondoniensis based on gltA . This is the first reported detection of B. bacilliformis DNA in Pi. (Pif.) robusta , providing evidence for the role of this sand fly species in transmission of this pathogen at the Ecuador-Peru border.

Nepal is committed to eliminating visceral leishmaniasis as a public health problem by 2030. The scattered distribution of VL cases across wide geo-ecological regions, including areas previously considered unsuitable for the survival of vectors and the transmission of the pathogen, poses a major threat to Nepal’s national VL elimination programme. Regular monitoring and accurate identification of sand fly species are essential for implementing tailored vector control interventions. Hence, this study aimed to update the distribution of sand fly species with a focus on Leishmania vectors and evaluate DNA barcoding as a complementary tool for their identification. Sand flies were collected from 43 districts with active VL cases across the country between 2017 and 2022. The mitochondrial COI gene was amplified for DNA barcoding analysis. The primary vector, Phlebotomus argentipes , was present in all except three districts. Potential vectors, Ph. ( Adlerius ) spp. and Ph. major , were found common in high-altitude regions. The species identification success rate of generated COI barcode sequences based on the “Best Close Match” was 97%, indicating high accuracy in delineating sand flies to the species level. The information on the distribution of phlebotomine sand flies and the potential use of DNA barcoding for their identification could be milestones for sand fly research and help to guide the vector control interventions in support of VL elimination in Nepal.

Background Southeast Asia is well known as a hotspot of biodiversity. However, very little is known about cave-dwelling hematophagous insects that are medically important. Taxonomic knowledge and ecology of phlebotomine sand flies are very poorly studied in Laos, as well as in other countries in the region. Herein, we report species diversity data and some notes on the ecology of the detected species from these karstic limestone areas of Laos. Methods Phlebotomine sand flies were collected using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) light traps from limestone cave locations in three districts of Vientiane Province, Laos. Both morphological and molecular techniques were used for sand fly identification. Species diversity and abundance were analyzed according to sites, locations, collection seasons, and trapping positions. Results A total of 6564 sand flies, of which 5038 were females and 1526 were males, were morphologically identified into 20 species belonging to five genera ( Chinius , Idiophlebotomus , Phlebotomus , Sergentomyia , and Grassomyia ). The most abundant species were Chinius eunicegalatiae , Phlebotomus stantoni , Sergentomyia hivernus , Se. siamensis , and Idiophlebotomus longiforceps . Cytochrome b analysis results supported the morphological identification and revealed that Se. siamensis was separated from other members of the Se. barraudi group. Two new species, Se. dvoraki n. sp. and Se. marolii n. sp., were described. Sand fly density was generally high except in a cave in Vangvieng, with species richness ranging from 14 to 18 across different caves. Outside caves had higher species richness (R = 20) and diversity ( H  = 2.50) than cave entrances (R = 18, H  = 2.41) and interiors (R = 16, H  = 2.13). Seasonal variations showed high sand fly density in Feung and Hinheup during both dry and rainy seasons, while Vangvieng had a notable decrease in density during the dry season (D = 6.29). Conclusions This study revealed that the diversity of phlebotomine sand fly fauna in Laos, particularly in karstic limestone areas, is greater than previously known. However, the taxonomic status of many species in Laos, as well as Southeast Asia, still needs more in-depth study using both morphological characters and molecular methods. Many species could be found from inside, at the entrance, and outside of caves, indicating a wide range of host-seeking behavior or possible natural breeding in the karstic cave areas. Graphical abstract

In South-East Asia, Thailand is the country with the highest number of human autochthonous cases of leishmaniases mostly due to Leishmania martiniquensis. Their transmission remains unresolved to date even though sand flies are known vectors of leishmaniases. As such, we focused a study on the sand fly fauna of a cave in Thailand to explore the biodiversity of potential Leishmania vectors. We carried out an inventory in Pha Tong cave. We caught and identified 570 Phlebotomine sand flies (452 females and 118 males) and identified 14 species belonging to the genera Phlebotomus, Idiophlebotomus, Chinius, Sergentomyia and Grassomyia. Among these 14 species, two could not be related to known sand fly species. Herein, we propose the description of two new sand fly species, previously unknown to science. The first new species, Phlebotomus shadenae n. sp. is a sand fly of the subgenus Anaphlebotomus. It is morphologically close to Ph. stantoni, a species widely distributed throughout Southeast Asia. However, it differs by the length of the genital filaments in males or by the length of the ducts of the spermathecae in females as well as the high divergence of cytochrome b sequences. Additionally, we revised the systematics of the subgenus Anaphlebotomus and reinstated, by examination of its holotype, the validity of Ph. maynei, an Indian wrongly considered as a synonym of Ph. stantoni in the past. The second new species, Sergentomyia maiae n. sp., differs from a species in the same group, Se. barraudi, by an original cibarial double row of vertical teeth as well as by molecular data. We propose the description of two new sand fly species for Science with morphological and molecular evidence. Ph. shadenae n. sp. was also found to be distributed in the south of Thailand and in Laos. Future studies need to determine whether these two species can play a role as vectors of Leishmania parasites, Trypanosomatids or Phlebovirus. Most of the species caught in the present study are strictly cavernicolous except Grassomyia sp. and a few Sergentomyia.

Background Sand flies are vectors of the protozoan Leishmania spp. and phleboviruses. In Europe, several species are widely distributed in the Mediterranean region and a northward spread can be observed. They can be found regularly also in some regions of Central Europe, with Phlebotomus mascittii being the most cold-tolerant and northerly distributed species, but the knowledge on their distribution in countries such as Germany, Austria, Czechia, Slovakia, and Hungary remains fragmentary because of a lack of comprehensive field studies and a poor understanding of the ecological requirements and phylogeographic history. Methods A comprehensive literature review of sand fly occurrence in five Central European countries was complemented by entomological surveys, including sand fly and rodent screening for sand fly-borne pathogens. Nucleic acid extraction, COI barcoding, blood meal analysis, and phylogenetic and environmental analyses incorporating unsupervised machine learning techniques were conducted. Results This study significantly advances the understanding of the current distribution of six sand fly species in Central Europe. Among them, only Ph. mascittii was present in all analyzed countries, except Czechia, with its seasonal activity peaking in July. Phlebotomus papatasi , Ph. perfiliewi and Ph. neglectus were recorded in Hungary, while Ph. perniciosus and Phlebotomus simici were found in Germany and Austria, respectively. Although Leishmania DNA was absent in sand flies and rodents, DNA from two distinct Trypanosoma lineages was detected in several specimens, suggesting Ph. mascittii feeds on both birds and ruminants. Trypanosomatid lineages identified in local rodents differed, indicating distinct lineages between sand flies and rodents. Environmental analysis identified 15 Corine land cover classes associated with sand fly presence, with urban locations being the most frequently occupied. Linear regression models comparing presence versus absence revealed significantly higher sand fly presence in forested and urban landscapes. Furthermore, Ph. mascittii populations formed four distinct ecological clusters, which broadly grouped into two main geographic groups: one in the Upper Rhine Valley of southwestern Germany and the other spanning the Carpathian Basin. Conclusions This study provides new insights into the current distribution, ecological preferences, seasonal activity, and potential vector capacity of sand fly species in Central Europe. Graphical Abstract

Sand flies (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) are medically important insects with an interesting, but poorly understood, evolutionary history. The abundance and diversity of inclusions of these flies in Myanmar (Burmese) amber provide valuable data on their geological history. In this study, a new genus and species of sand fly, Longiphlebes excelsior gen. et sp. nov., is described based on an inclusion from Cretaceous Kachin amber (northern Myanmar). The systematic position of the new genus is discussed, and its morphological characters are compared with those of selected extant and fossil Phlebotominae taxa. The morphology of the genitalia, head, and wing suggests a closer relationship to recent Old World Phlebotominae fauna than to the more derived fossil genera such as Phlebotomites or the phlebotomid-like Eophlebotomus . This discovery broadens our understanding of Cretaceous sand flies, especially their evolution and diversity.