First collection records of phlebotomine sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Botswana

Abstract

No phlebotomine sandflies have ever been recorded in Botswana, southern Africa, although there are several reports from the surrounding countries, namely South Africa, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. During a pilot survey in 2014–2015 in Maun, northern Botswana, 41 specimens, belonging to two species and species groups, respectively, were detected: Sergentomyia (Grassomyia) inermis (Theodor) and Se. (Sergentomyia) “bedfordi (Newstead) group”. The latter comprised of specimens resembling Se. (Ser.) congolensis (Bequaert et Walravens), Se. (Ser.) caliginosa (Davidson) and Se. (Ser.) salisburiensis (Abonnenc). None of these species are known to be vectors of human leishmaniasis parasites.