Identification and Classification of Sand Flies Species and It’s Habitats in El-Kadaba Village, White Nile State, Sudan

Abstract

Sand flies are a group of dipterans insects belonging to the subfamily Phlebotomine, family Psychodidae. Members of sand flies are delicate and can be easily recognized by their brownish colour, small size (1.5-2.5 mm), hairy appearance, long slender legs, jerky flight pattern and the characteristic manner in which they hold their pointed wings at an angle of 45° above their body. In this study, an entomological survey was carried out during June 2008 in El-Kadaba village (White Nile State, Sudan) to determine sandfly fauna and to identify sand flies vector(s). Sandflies were collected using sticky paper and light traps. Ten species of sandflies were recorded, three Phlebotomus species and seven Sergentomyia species of these sandflies, P. rodhaini was collected only from Acacia seyal/Balanitiesaegyptiaca at the Island whereas S. hunti was collected from the Acacia nilotica forest only of the total collections, P. orientalis representing 3.80% (248 specimens) of the total collection and P. papatasiwere 3.11% of the collection. The abundant species recorded in the area were S. sqaumipluer is (39.76%), S. clydei (25.89%) and S. antennatus (12.39%). Phlebotomusorientalis were collected significantly in higher numbers from the Island (Acacia/Balanities thicket) (5.50±0.98), than the village (3.25±0.72). According to results of this study we recommended the following: more studies must be done in future to cover all the belt of sand flies to determine all species of sand flies in Sudan. Annually Entomological survies must be done to determine density of Sandfly Vectors and Encourage the use of personal protection tools (ITNs), repellents, and improving of houses to avoid bite of sand fly