Chemical ecology of sand fly plant-feeding behaviour

Publication Type

Journal Article

Journal Name

Sensory Ecology of Disease Vectors

Publication Date

1-1-2023

Abstract

Sand flies are a diverse group of insects, distributed across at least eight genera: Phlebotomus, Sergentomyia, Chinius in the Old World; and Lutzomyia, Brumtomyia, Warileya, Psychodopygus and Nyssomyia in the New World. A few species in the genera Phlebotomus, Lutzomyia, Psychodopygus and Nyssomyia are of public health significance, because these vector pathogens that cause diseases in humans. The most important disease vectored is leishmaniasis, caused by the protozoan parasite Leishmania. Research has shown that the population dynamics of sand fly species, and the risk of leishmaniasis, could be related to several factors, including their interaction with certain plant species. The focus of this chapter is to discuss the plant-feeding behaviour of these medically important sand flies and provide examples of how chemical cues mediating this behaviour can be used in sand fly management.

Keywords

Leishmaniasis, Phlebotomine disease vectors, Phytophagy, Volatile organic compounds

ISBN

[9789086863808, 9789086869329]

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