Investigations of Phlebotomus perniciosus sand flies in rural Spain reveal strongly aggregated and gender‐specific spatial distributions and advocate use of light‐attraction traps

Abstract

The spatial and temporal distribution of Phlebotomus perniciosus (Diptera: Psychodidae) (Newstead, 1911), the sand fly vector of pathogens of public and animal health importance, was investigated in a high sand fly density rural area in Spain using light‐attraction and sticky‐interception traps. Traps were placed inside animal buildings and outside at increasing distance from animals. A total of 8506 sand flies were collected, 87% with light traps. Species frequency differed between trap types. The abundance of P. perniciosus decreased exponentially with increasing distance to animals and, while females were most common in the animal enclosure, males predominated in adjoining storage places. Increasing CO2 concentration had an additional positive effect on female abundance only. Both male and female density increased with rising temperature, and there was some indication that females were more active than males at higher relative humidity. The study confirms that P. perniciosus aggregates around animal premises, although male and female distributions differ and should be analysed separately to account for biological and behavioural differences. This provides further evidence that light traps offer an accurate estimation of the relative spatial and temporal abundance of P. perniciosus, conferring an added value for the study of this species and the risk of pathogen transmission.

Molecular xenomonitoring and host identification of Leishmania sand fly vectors in a Mediterranean periurban wildlife park

“…This suggests differential behavioural patterns of females depending on their physiological stage, with engorged and gravid females likely looking for sheltered areas to digest the bloodmeal and produce eggs, and unfed females preferring sites close to potential feeding hosts. Abundance of all sand fly stages was also positively associated with higher % RH, which may be favourable for sand fly survival, although previous studies of the relationship between % RH and P. perniciosus abundance in Murcia Region showed contrasting results (Muñoz et al, ; Risueño et al, ). The impact on vector distribution of selective administration of insecticides is difficult to assess because treated and untreated animals were scattered around the park and insecticide persistence declines with the time.…”

“…It is well established that adult sand flies congregate close to animals they feed on (Alexander, ; Munstermann, ). In farms and kennels in rural Murcia, P. perniciosus abundance was inversely proportional to the distance to the main animal group, with some distributional differences between males and females (Muñoz et al, ). Here, the traps with largest captures were those next to the infirmary cages and a large proportion of bloodmeals corresponded to host species kept in these places.…”

Effect of trapping method on species identification of phlebotomine sandflies by MALDI‐TOF MS protein profiling

“…Despite their obvious advantages, they gradually gave way to light traps, which rely on attraction rather than passive interception, and provide reliable estimates of the relative abundances of phototropic species, including Leishmania spp. vectors (Muñoz et al ., ). Although they facilitate a partial catch of live specimens, one of the limitations of CDC light traps is their presumably selective attraction of different species and sexes (Alexander, ; Alten et al ., ).…”

“…This is the first study to use MALDI‐TOF MS protein profiling in field specimens caught by two different trapping methods in order to evaluate the effects of trap type on the quality of protein spectra and thus their potential for successful species identification. Specimens included in this study were collected in different habitats at seven periurban or agricultural sites in southeast Spain, where sandfly species composition, spatial distribution and ecological traits have been intensively studied (Muñoz et al ., , Risueño et al ., ). Specimens of different sandfly species acquired by light traps produced protein profiles of quality sufficient to provide a high rate of successful identification and only three could not be unequivocally identified (Table ).…”

The importance of vector abundance and seasonality

“…In rural areas, where sandflies are most common, they tend to concentrate where animals congregate, in farms and stables [35], but their abundance varies substantially with farm type [16]. Several sites of different type should therefore be sampled to get representative results.…”