Sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) in the county of Estrela and first record of Lutzomyia pascalei (Coutinho & Barretto) in Rio Grande do Sul State

Abstract

Sand flies are dipterans whose females need blood feeding for egg development, and therefore are important in the transmission of disease-causing agents such as bartoneloses, arboviruses and leishmaniasis to humans and several other vertebrates. The aim of this study was to inventory the sand flies present in an urban expansion area in the county of Estrela, Rio Grande do Sul, highlighting the relevant species in cycle of the cutaneous leishmaniasis. Collections were made from September 2007 to April 2008. To capture insects CDC light traps were simultaneously used in domestic, peridomestic and forest areas. A total of 74 sand flies belonging to nine species were collected:  Brumptomyia cunhai, B. nitzulescui, Lutzomyia edwardsi, L. fischeri, L. lanei, L. migonei, L. misionensis, L. neivai and L. pascalei. The most frequent species with epidemiological importance were L. neivai and L. fischeri. Lutzomyia pascalei (Coutinho & Barretto) is recorded for the first time in Rio Grande do Sul.