The Phlebotominae are a subfamily of the family Psychodidae. In several countries, their common name is sandfly, but that name is also applied to other fly. The Phlebotominae include many genera of blood-feeding (hematophagous) flies, including the primary vectors of leishmaniasis, bartonellosis, and pappataci fever.
Sandflies are small; a body size of about 3 mm in length is typical for many species, which aids them in escaping notice. Their bite is not always felt, but leaves a small, round, reddish bump that starts itching hours or days later. Use of insect repellent is recommended in areas where sandflies are present.
Diet and reproduction
Phlebotomine sandflies have a diet that includes both blood and plant-derived sugar meals. Phlebotomine females, and only females, suck blood from various
,
, and
, while both sexes consume sugary substances including nectar, honeydew, and phloem sap from plants.
Some species are selective about their hosts, whereas others bite any suitable host they find. Some species can produce one clutch of eggs before their first blood meal; such females are said to practise autogenous or partly autogenous reproduction. Other species need a blood meal before they can produce any eggs at all; they are said to practise anautogenous reproduction. As far as is known, all species need a blood meal for every following clutch of eggs. and other in the blood they eat enable the females to produce the proteins and fats necessary for them to produce eggs after using up their bodily food stores.[Braverman, Y. Nematocera (Ceratopogonidae, Psychodidae, Simuliidae and Culicidae) and control methods Rev. sci. tech. Off. int. Epiz., 1994,13(4), 1175-1199] In feeding on blood, the flies use their mouthparts to initiate bleeding from the host. They then suck up the exposed blood. Like practically all blood-feeding parasites, they inject biochemicals that inhibit blood clotting, plus some that stimulate host to produce histamine; this distends , thereby promoting blood flow.
One blood meal can support the production of about 100 eggs. Females lay their eggs in humid soil rich in organic matter. Laboratory colonies of various phlebotomine sandfly species have been established for experimental study.[ ]
A 2018 study showed that several sandfly species in different parts of the world displayed a notable preference for Cannabis sativa as part of their plant-derived diet, suggesting it might be highly attractive to them.
Health concerns
As sandfly females suck blood from
, including
, they can transmit
leishmaniasis,
, and
bartonellosis.
In the New World, leishmaniasis is spread by sandflies in the genus
Lutzomyia, which commonly live in caves, where their main hosts are
. In the Old World, sandflies in the genus
Phlebotomus spread leishmaniasis.
Distribution
Phlebotomine sandflies can be found between the latitudes 50°N and 40°S, but are absent from New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.
Genera
-
Australophlebotomus Oskar Theodor, 1948
-
Bichromomyia Artemiev, 1991
-
Brumptomyia França & Parrot, 1921 (Mexico to South America)
-
Chinius Leng, 1985 (2 species: China, Thailand)
-
Dampfomyia Addis, 1945
-
Datzia Stebner et al.2015 (Burmese amber, Cenomanian)
-
Deanemyia Galati, 1995
-
Evandromyia Mangabeira, 1941
-
Edentomyia Galati, Andrade-Filho, da Silva & Falcão, 2003 (Brazil)
-
Expapillata Galati, 1995
-
Hertigia Graham Fairchild, 1949
-
Idiophlebotomus Quate & Graham Fairchild, 1961
-
Libanophlebotomus Azar et al. 1999
-
Lutzomyia França, 1924 (North and South America)
-
Mandalayia Stebner et al.2015 (Burmese amber, Cenomanian)
-
Martinsmyia Galati, 1995
-
Mesophlebotomites Azar et al. 1999 Lebanese amber, Barremian
-
Micropygomyia Barretto, 1962
-
Migonemyia Galati, 1995
-
Nyssomyia Barretto, 1962
-
Oligodontomyia Galati, 1995
-
Palaeomyia Poinar 2004 Burmese amber, Albian
-
Phlebotomites Stebner et al.2015 Lebanese amber, Barremian, Burmese amber, Cenomanian
-
Phlebotoiella Solórzano Kraemer and Wagner 2009 Cambay amber, India, Eocene
-
Phlebotomus Camillo Rondani, 1995 & Berté, 1840 (Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia)
-
Pintomyia Costa Lima, 1932
-
Pressatia Mangabeira, 1942
-
Protopsychodinae Stebner et al.2015
-
Protopsychoda Azar et al. 1999 Lebanese amber, Barremian
-
Psathyromyia Barretto, 1962
-
Psychodopygus Mangabeira, 1941
-
Sciopemyia Barretto, 1962
-
Sergentomyia França & Parrot, 1920 (Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia)
-
Trichophoromyia Barretto, 1962
-
Viannamyia Mangabeira, 1941
-
Warileya Hertig, 1948 (Central and South America)
== Gallery: anatomy of Phlebotominae ==
See also
-
Use of DNA in forensic entomology
External links
