Medical and Veterinary Entomology (2020) 34, 164-174

P. Pérez-Cutillas, C. Muñoz, J. Martínez-De La Puente, J. Figuerola, R. Navarro, M. Ortuño, L.J. Bernal, J. Ortiz, R.C. Soriguer and E. Berriatua (2020)
A spatial ecology study in a high-diversity host community to understand blood-feeding behaviour in Phlebotomus sandfly vectors of Leishmania
Medical and Veterinary Entomology 34 (2), 164-174
Abstract: Molecular studies indicate that Phlebotomine sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) blood feed on many vertebrate species, of which only a few are proven parasite reservoirs. Investigating sandfly vector feeding preferences is therefore important and requires taking into account the availability and accessibility of host species. In terms of the latter, it is necessary to consider the metabolic cost to the insect of reaching the host and moving on to a suitable breeding site. The present study used statistical modelling to compare the feeding patterns of Phlebotomus perniciosus (n = 150), Phlebotomus papatasi (n = 35) and Phlebotomus ariasi (n = 7) on each of an average of 30 host species in a wildlife park in Murcia, Spain. Sandfly feeding movement costs were estimated as a function of the distance and altitude gradients saved by the insect, assuming that they displayed 'site fidelity'. Most (87%) engorged females were caught <100 m from the host on which they had fed. Although the percentage of bloodmeals was highest on fallow deer (Dama dama ) (30%) and red deer (Cervus elaphus ) (26%), the predicted feeding probability after considering movement cost was highest for red deer and common eland (Taurotragus oryx ), and positively associated with host census. These results suggest that, under similar circumstances, sandflies prefer to feed on some host species more than on others.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Jordi Figuerola, Eduardo Berriatua

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
environment - cropping system/rotation
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Phlebotomus papatasi		Spain (continental)
	Phlebotomus perniciosus		Spain (continental)
	Phlebotomus ariasi		Spain (continental)