[The subgenus Paraphlebotomus (Phlebotomus--Phlebotominae-- Psychodidae--Diptera): a review. Morphological and...

A systematic review of the subgenus Paraphlebotomus (a group of phlebotomine sandflies which contains several vectors of leishmaniasis) is proposed. In the morphological approach, we study the available types and a lot of sandflies coming from different geographic areas. The taxonomic status of each species is revised. We consider P. marismortui as a synonym of P. alexandri. We suppose that P. mofidii is a valid species. P. similis is clearly differentiated from P. sergenti. A new species is described from North Africa: P. riouxi. We discuss the validity of P. saevus. Two molecular phylogenies based on ribosomal DNA sequences are proposed. The first one used the D2 domain of the 28 S sub-unit. It emphasises a very close relation between the subgenera Paraphlebotomus and Phlebotomus, a likely paraphyly of the genus Phlebotomus and the position of the genera Sergentomyia and Lutzomyia as two sister groups. The second one used the ITS 2. It emphasises the informative capacity of this gene for the resolution of the phylogenetic relations within the subgenera Paraphlebotomus.