A cybercatalogue of American sand fly types (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) deposited at the Natural History Museum, London

Abstract

Background Sand flies (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) are biting flies involved in the transmission of pathogens, including the protozoan parasite Leishmania amongst human and non-human animals (Rangel and Lainson 2009). New information A total of 60 species of American Phlebotominae (Diptera: Psychodidae), distributed amongst 16 genera were studied. A checklist of the primary and secondary type specimens held at the Natural History Museum, London (NHMUK), is given and 968 photographs of the specimens and their labels are made available on a Scratchpads website http://phlebotominaenhmtypes.myspecies.info.