SYSTEMATICS OF INDIAN SANDFLY (DIPTERA: PHLEBOTOMIDAE)
ANUSHKA CHHONKAR *
Department of Zoology, School of Entomology, St. John’s College, Agra, India.
GIRISH MAHESHWARI
Department of Zoology, School of Entomology, St. John’s College, Agra, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Sandfly is a tiny hematophagous Nematocera Dipteran fly belongs to family Phlebotomidae. Sandfly fauna of the world is represented by about 737 species while Indian sandfly fauna touches the figure of 55 species approximately. Out of all reported species from all over the world around 42 species of sandfly mainly Phlebotomus genus are established or probable vector of Leishmaniasis. Seven species were identified taxonomically during the present investigation. These are: Phlebotomus argentipes Annandale & Brunetti, P. papatasi Scopoli, Sergentomyia clydei Sinton, S. eadithae Sinton, S. punjabensis Sinton, S. babu Annandale and S. minuta Rondani. Present research paper includes informations on the systematics of Indian phlebotomine fauna.
Keywords: India, Leishmaniasis, nematocera, Phlebotomidae, systematics