Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in different localities of Al-Baha province, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

A spot survey was conducted to study the sand fly fauna in Al-Baha province, Saudi Arabia. Six sand fly species belonging to the genus Phlebotomus and three to the genus Sergentomyia were identified. Phlebotomus bergeroti was the predominant species being recorded in all sites and represented 54.4 % of the identified flies. The remaining flies were P. sergenti (14.8%), P. arabicus (13.2 %), P. alexandri (5.3%), S. tiberiadis (4.9%), S. antennata (2.4%), S. clydei (2.1%), P. papatasi (1.5%), and P. orientalis (1.3%). The overall number of males collected (3458) was more than that of females (2637). Within the study period (April to December, 1995), sand flies were more active during the period from July to September. The collected fly species displayed different peaks between June and November. No Leishmania infection was found in any of the dissected females.

A preliminary study on the insect fauna of Al-Baha Province, Saudi Arabia, with descriptions of two new species

“…1) is situated in the south-western part of Saudi Arabia between the Holy Makkah and Asir Regions (Doha 2009), with a population of about 500,000. It is the smallest province in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia (about 10362 km²), situated between longitudes 41°/42° E and latitudes 19°/20° N. This Province is known for its beauty and has many tourist attractions such as forests (about 53 forests), wild life areas, valleys, and mountains.…”

“…Only a few scattered studies have been carried out on select insect groups particularly in Al-Baha (Doha 2009) or have focused on the description of individual species (Aldawood et al 2011; Lehrer and Abou-Zied 2008; Sharaf and Aldawood 2011, 2012; Sharaf et al 2012a, 2012b). However, many studies in select insect groups have been carried out in Saudi Arabia as a whole.…”

“…However, many studies in select insect groups have been carried out in Saudi Arabia as a whole. Many of these studies have been consulted in order to classify the species collected in the current survey or to determine species previously recorded from Al-Baha, and such studies include the following: Abdullah and Merdan (1995), Alahmed et al (2010), Aldryhim and Khalil (1996), Amoudi (1993), Amoudi and Leclercq (1992), Balkenohl (1994), Basilewsky (1979), Bílý (1979, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1990), Bolton (1976, 1977, 1980, 1995), Boorman (1989), Brown (2000), Bryant (1957), Büttiker (1980), Chassain (1979, 1983), Coiffait (1979), Collingwood (1985), Collingwood and Agosti (1996), Collingwood and van Harten (2005), Collingwood et al (1997), Collingwood et al (2004), Cranston and Judd (1989), Crosskey and Buttiker (1982), Daccordi (1979), Damoisseau (1979), Dawah and Abdullah (2006), Decelle (1979), Deeming (1998), Dlabola (1979, 1980), Doguet (1979, 1984), Doha (2009), Español (1981), Fürsch (1979), Fürsch (1979), Gorochov (1993), Greathead (1980, 1988), Guichard (1985, 1986, 1988), Hamid and Hamid (1985), Hölzel (1980, 1982, 1983a, 1983b, 1987, 1988, 1998), Holzschuh (1979), Holzschuh and Téocchi (1991) Horstmann (1981), Ibrahim and Abdoon (2005), Kaltenbach (1982), Kaszab (1979, 1981, 1982), Kwieton (1981), Larsen (1979, 1983, 1984), Leclercq (1982, 1986, 2000), Lewis and Buttiker (1980)<...>…”

The Tetramorium squaminode species group (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in the Arabian Peninsula, with a new record from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and keys to Arabian species

“…It is anticipated that the Arabian Tetramorium squaminode -group members have a broader distribution in the region than currently known, and will be found in additional localities at higher elevations, as well as in the Yemeni regions of these mountains. In addition, the record of Tetramorium squaminode in the Mountains of southwestern KSA, as well as other Afrotropical faunal elements recorded in the region, provides additional confirmations of the similarity of the entomofauna with the Afrotropical Region (Eig 1938; Zohary 1973; Bolton 1994, Lehrer and Abou-Zied 2008; Doha 2009; Aldawood et al 2011; Sharaf and Aldawood 2011, 2012; Sharaf et al 2012a, b, c; El-Hawagryi et al 2013; Sharaf and Aldawood 2013; Sharaf et al 2014). …”

“…Therefore, it is not surprising that the faunal composition of the southwestern region of the Arabian Peninsula is similar to the Afrotropical region. Several works have confirmed the mentioned faunal similarity (Eig 1938; Zohary 1973; Bolton 1994, Lehrer and Abou-Zied 2008; Doha 2009; Aldawood et al 2011; Sharaf and Aldawood 2011, 2012; Sharaf et al 2012a, b, c; El-Hawagryi et al 2013; Sharaf and Aldawood 2013; Sharaf et al 2014). Consequently, the biogeography of Tetramorium squaminode in the southwestern Mountains of the Arabian Peninsula is obviously similar to that of East African specimens.…”