The Phlebotominae are a subfamily of the family Psychodidae. In several countries, their common name is

sandfly Sandfly or sand fly is a colloquial name for any species or genus of flying, biting, blood-sucking dipteran (fly) encountered in sandy areas. In the United States, ''sandfly'' may refer to certain horse flies that are also known as "greenhea ...

, but that name is also applied to other

flies Flies are insects of the Order (biology), order Diptera, the name being derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek δι- ''di-'' "two", and πτερόν ''pteron'' "wing". Insects of this order use only a single pair of wings to fly, the hindwin ...

. The Phlebotominae include many

genera Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family as used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In binomial nomenclature, the genus name forms the first part of the binomial s ...

of blood-feeding ( hematophagous) flies, including the primary vectors of

leishmaniasis Leishmaniasis is a wide array of clinical manifestations caused by protozoal parasites of the Trypanosomatida genus ''Leishmania''. It is generally spread through the bite of Phlebotominae, phlebotomine Sandfly, sandflies, ''Phlebotomus'' an ...

, 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

mammal A mammal () is a vertebrate animal of the Class (biology), class Mammalia (). Mammals are characterised by the presence of milk-producing mammary glands for feeding their young, a broad neocortex region of the brain, fur or hair, and three ...

reptile Reptiles, as commonly defined, are a group of tetrapods with an ectothermic metabolism and Amniotic egg, amniotic development. Living traditional reptiles comprise four Order (biology), orders: Testudines, Crocodilia, Squamata, and Rhynchocepha ...

s, and

bird Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class (biology), class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the Oviparity, laying of Eggshell, hard-shelled eggs, a high Metabolism, metabolic rate, a fou ...

s, while both sexes consume sugary substances including nectar, honeydew, and phloem sap from plants. Some

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

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.

Protein Proteins are large biomolecules and macromolecules that comprise one or more long chains of amino acid residue (biochemistry), residues. Proteins perform a vast array of functions within organisms, including Enzyme catalysis, catalysing metab ...

s and other

nutrient A nutrient is a substance used by an organism to survive, grow and reproduce. The requirement for dietary nutrient intake applies to animals, plants, fungi and protists. Nutrients can be incorporated into cells for metabolic purposes or excret ...

s 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. 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 mast cells to produce

histamine Histamine is an organic nitrogenous compound involved in local immune responses communication, as well as regulating physiological functions in the gut and acting as a neurotransmitter for the brain, spinal cord, and uterus. Discovered in 19 ...

; this distends capillary vessels, 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

vertebrate Vertebrates () are animals with a vertebral column (backbone or spine), and a cranium, or skull. The vertebral column surrounds and protects the spinal cord, while the cranium protects the brain. The vertebrates make up the subphylum Vertebra ...

s, including

human Humans (''Homo sapiens'') or modern humans are the most common and widespread species of primate, and the last surviving species of the genus ''Homo''. They are Hominidae, great apes characterized by their Prehistory of nakedness and clothing ...

s, they can transmit

, arboviruses, 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 bats. 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'' 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'' Fairchild, 1949 *'' Idiophlebotomus'' Quate & Fairchild, 1961 *'' Libanophlebotomus'' Azar et al. 1999 Lebanese amber, Barremian *'' 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 Burmese amber, also known as Burmite or Kachin amber, is amber from the Hukawng Valley in northern Myanmar. The amber is dated to around 100 million years ago, during the latest Albian to earliest Cenomanian ages of the mid-Cretaceous period. Th ...

Cenomanian The Cenomanian is, in the International Commission on Stratigraphy's (ICS) geological timescale, the oldest or earliest age (geology), age of the Late Cretaceous epoch (geology), Epoch or the lowest stage (stratigraphy), stage of the Upper Cretace ...

*'' Phlebotoiella'' Solórzano Kraemer and Wagner 2009 Cambay amber, India, Eocene *'' Phlebotomus'' 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

File:Parasite170028-fig1 Illustrated guide of Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae).png, Head File:Parasite170028-fig2 Illustrated guide of Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae).png, Head File:Parasite170028-fig3 Illustrated guide of Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae).png, Mouth parts File:Parasite170028-fig4 Illustrated guide of Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae).png, Mouth parts File:Parasite170028-fig5 Illustrated guide of Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae).png, Mouth parts File:Parasite170028-fig6 Illustrated guide of Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae).png, Mouth parts File:Parasite170028-fig7 Illustrated guide of Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae).png, Mouth parts File:Parasite170028-fig8 Illustrated guide of Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae).png, Mouth parts File:Parasite170028-fig9 Illustrated guide of Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae).png File:Parasite170028-fig10 Illustrated guide of Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae).png, Thorax File:Parasite170028-fig11 Illustrated guide of Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae).png, Thorax File:Parasite170028-fig12 Illustrated guide of Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae).png, Thorax File:Parasite170028-fig13 Illustrated guide of Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae).png, Thorax File:Parasite170028-fig14 Illustrated guide of Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae).png, Wing File:Parasite170028-fig15 Illustrated guide of Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae).png, Abdomen File:Parasite170028-fig16 Illustrated guide of Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae).png, Abdomen File:Parasite170028-fig17 Illustrated guide of Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae).png, Abdomen File:Parasite170028-fig18 Illustrated guide of Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae).png, Genitalia File:Parasite170028-fig19 Illustrated guide of Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae).png, Genitalia File:Parasite170028-fig20 Illustrated guide of Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae).png, Genitalia File:Parasite170028-fig21 Illustrated guide of Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae).png, Genitalia File:Parasite170028-fig22 Illustrated guide of Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae).png, Genitalia File:Parasite170028-fig23 Illustrated guide of Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae).png, Genitalia File:Parasite170028-fig24 Illustrated guide of Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae).png, Genitalia File:Parasite170028-fig25 Illustrated guide of Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae).png, Genitalia File:Parasite170028-fig26 Illustrated guide of Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae).png, Genitalia File:Parasite170028-fig27 Illustrated guide of Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae).png, Genitalia File:Parasite170028-fig28 Illustrated guide of Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae).png, Genitalia

References

External links

* *
CIPA Computer-aided Identification of Phlebotomine sand flies of America

on the UF / IFAS Featured Creatures website {{Taxonbar, from=Q1416438 Psychodidae Nematocera subfamilies Extant Barremian first appearances