Investigation of Habitat Effects on the Spatial Distribution of Lutzomyia shannoni Across Heterogeneous Environments, With Note of Respective Mosquito Species Compositions

Abstract

Sand flies are small blood feeding dipterans that are primary vectors of numerous human and livestock pathogens. Control efforts are often complex and multidimensional. A fundamental step in the development and implementation of any integrated pest management (IPM) program is the refining of effective surveillance and identification techniques. Before this study, the presence of two species, Lutzomyia shannoni (Dyar) and Lutzomyia vexator (Coquillett) became known in Kentucky and surrounding states. To understand the spatial distribution of these species across heterogeneous landscapes in this region, trapping was conducted at random locations in previously designated habitats. Although a lack of clear data prevented any conclusions to be drawn for the preferences of L. vexator, the species of greater medical and veterinary importance, L. shannoni, was documented to show a strong preference for habitats along the wooded edges of pasture lands. In the region of study, these lands are frequently used in the production of beef cattle and other livestock, reinforcing the veterinary significance of the findings. Because of their familiarity to vector control officials and operators, mosquito species compositions were compared with the recorded abundance of L. shannoni across the varied habitats. The linking of this information should prove useful to management plans for the phlebotomine, if warranted in the future.

Culex nigripalpus Distribution Expansion: First Record in Virginia, New County Records in North Carolina, and Revised United States Map

“…Within the last 3 decades, this species has expanded northward and established populations in areas where it was initially an occasional transient. This is evidenced by collections in Kentucky (Minter et al 2011, Dye 2016, Oklahoma (Bradt 2017), and North Carolina (this report) which are nigh on the northern limits of its current range. Recent discovery of the species in Suffolk, VA, at widely separated locations suggests the possibility of further range expansion into the Mid-Atlantic region.…”

“…Theuret, personal communication) and along the northern edge of the new limit line in Missouri (Claborn et al 2018) and Illinois (Kim and Stone 2018) have extended the documented distribution of this species hundreds of miles into the northern Midwest. In Kentucky, the map now reflects both historic and recent collections: Jefferson County (Covell 1968), Caldwell County (Minter et al 2011), andFayette County (Dye 2016). For Tennessee, we have entered historical (Middlekauff and Carpenter 1944) as well as new findings in Chester (Cohen et al 2009), Knox (Haddow et al 2009), Blount, Fayette, Hardeman (Fryxell et al 2014), and Davidson (Briggs 2021) counties.…”

Molecular Identification of Sand Flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Eastern North America by Using PCR-RFLP

“…Although information on natural history and trapping that could be useful in surveillance has improved (Comer and Brown, 1993;Brinson et al 1992;Comer et al , 1994Haddow et al 2008;Claborn et al 2008;, Mann et al 2009Minter et al 2009Minter et al , 2011Minter 2010;Mann and Kaufmann 2010;Minter and Brown 2010), identiÞcation remains troublesome across this group of insects. Current taxonomic keys to the Phlebotominae are difÞcult to use and are largely based on features of the genitalia and internal reproductive structures, which require the use of tedious clearing, dissection techniques and microscopy, or both (Young and Perkins 1984, Young and Duncan 1994, El-Hossary 2006.…”