Brill Online
Browse

Supplementary materials for the Journal of the European Mosquito Control Association: Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) found widespread but at low densities in Luxembourg

Download (75.32 kB)
journal contribution
posted on 2025-01-22, 09:51 authored by F. Schaffner, A. Weigand

Following the first record of Phlebotomine sand flies in Luxembourg in 2023, we performed during the summer 2024 the first extensive field survey investigating the sand fly fauna diversity and distribution in the Grand Duchy. Overall, 181 samples (insect batches/site/trapping method/date) were collected from 165 sites across the country (44 localities in 28 communes), mainly by running light traps but occasionally sticky traps and conducting resting catches. Only Phlebotomus mascittii was found, in a total of 15 samples collected at 10 localities, revealing 23 specimens (12 females and 11 males). More trapping effort might be implemented in the country to confirm the absence of Ph. perniciosus. Together with the first observations of 2023 (at two localities), the occurrence of Ph. mascittii has increased to 12 localities in total, which are widely distributed over south Luxembourg, but with an overall low density. This low density suggests the risk for Leishmania transmission in Luxembourg, if introduced, to be very low. The two northernmost localities where sand flies were detected are in the commune of Rosport-Mompach. Our data do not suggest northwards spread of sand flies, but they complete the distribution data north to the Alps, demonstrating they are more widespread than previously known. Further assessing the risk for sand fly-borne diseases in Luxembourg would request the acquisition of information on Leishmania infections in dogs for imported cases and, if existing, suspected locally acquired cases. Additional entomological field surveys may be implemented to further determine the local distribution of sand flies, the period of activity of adults, the abundance, or the presence of pathogens in insects when their circulation is suspected.

History

Usage metrics

    Journals

    Licence

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC