Sand flies species distribution in tourist areas of eight northern provinces, Thailand

Abstract

This study investigated species composition of sandflies in eight Northern provinces   of Thailand, i.e. Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Lampang, Phrae, Nan, Mae Hong Son and Phayao. The survey was conducted during two consecutive nights of each survey from November 2016 to May 2017. Light traps were used as a collection tool, the collection time started after sunset 6:00 pm to 6:00 am. The results showed that a total of 972 sandflies were collected, 601 males (61.8%) and 371 females (38.2%). Only the females were identified and 14 species were found, consisting 263 (70.89%) females belonging to Phlebotomus species and 108 (29.11%) were Sergentomyia species .They were most abundant in March.  Nan had the highest diversity of sandflies (10 species), followed by Lamphun (6 species), Mae Hong Son (5 species), Chiang Mai (4 species), Lampang (3 species), Phrae and Phayao (2 species) and Chiang Rai (1 species). The most abundant species was Phlebotomus major major (169/45.55%), followed by P. argentipes (67/18.06%), Sergentomyia barraudi (36/36.6%), S. anodontis (31/8.35%), P. stantoni (22/5.92%),   S. gemmea (14 / 3.77%), S. brevicaulis (11/2.96%) S. indica (5/1.35%), S. iyengari (1.08%), S. dentata (1.08%), P. colabaensis (1.08%), S. bailyi (0.54%), P. teshi (0.27%), and S. hodgsoni (0.27%).   The data collected from this survey will be compiled to database which would be useful for surveillance of leishmaniasis vectors in northern Thailand.