Distribution and relative density of three sandfly(Diptera : Phlebotominae)species in southern Switzerland

Abstract

SUMMARY. Sticky paper traps were used to demonstrate the presence of three sandfly species -Phlebotomus (Larroussius) perniciosus (Newstead 1911), Phlebotomus (Adlerius) mascittii (Grassi 1908) and Sergentomyia (Sergentomyia) minuta (Rondani 1843)-in canton Ticino (southern Switzerland) from 1981 to 1983. Some concentrations of P. perniciosus and S. minuta were noted in western Mendrisioto and minor Malcantone. Studies on the vertical distributions of sandflies showed S. minuta at 200-600 m, P. perniciosus at 300-600 m and P. mascittii at 400-700 m above sea level. When modified CDC light traps were used in certain biotopes, improved catches of P. perniciosus and P. mascittii were recorded. Key-words : Phlebotominae. Distribution. Switzerland. Distribution et densité relative de trois espèces de phlébotomes

Phlebotomus (Transphlebotomus) mascittii Grassi, 1908, in Carinthia: first record of the occurrence of sandflies in Austria (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae)

“…Moreover, it has been found in north of the Alps in Switzerland, France, Belgium, and in recent years in Germany. In Switzerland, P. mascittii was captured in the western canton Vaud (Galli-Valerio 1912;Gaschen 1956a) and in the southern canton Ticino (Gaschen 1956b;Knechtli and Jenni 1989). In France, where P. mascittii has been reported from 25 departments, the most northern location was Savignies (department Oise) near Beauvais (Larrousse 1923;Langeron and Nitzulescu 1931), and one female was caught in the border province Alsace (Callot 1950).…”

Aspects of sandfly biology in southern Switzerland

“…In southern Switzerland adult sandflies are present only during the summer, between the end of June and the end o f August. when climatic conditions are favourable (Knechtli & Jenni, 1989). During this relatively short period.…”

“…1976) are characteristic features of this landscape. The area around the village of Sessa (Minor Malcantone, 394m above sea level) having some of the highest densities of sandfly populations detected in Switzerland (Knechtli & Jenni, 1989) was chosen as study area.…”

Winter activity of Phlebotomus (Transphlebotomus) mascittii, Grassi 1908 (Diptera: Psychodidae) on the island of Corsica

“…In 1912, P. mascittii was found in western Switzerland (Galli-Valerio 1912) and in 1931 in southern Switzerland (Vogel 1931). Further studies on P. mascittii in Switzerland were made by Knechtli and Jenni (1989) and Grimm et al (1993). In 1950, a blood-feeding female could be collected from a child in Strasbourg near by the German border (Callot 1950).…”