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Sand fly behavior: much more than weak-flying.
Gabriel Barbosa Tonelli1, Camila Binder1, Carina Margonari1
1Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto René Rachou, Grupo de Estudos em Leishmanioses, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.
Memorias Do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz
|November 24, 2021
Summary
This study found limited flight capacity in sand flies, with no marked individuals recaptured up to 150 meters across a river. These findings challenge previous research on leishmaniasis vector mobility.
Area of Science:
- Entomology
- Medical Zoology
- Vector Biology
Background:
- Leishmaniases are vector-borne diseases transmitted by sand flies, posing challenges for control due to their wide geographical distribution.
- Understanding sand fly mobility is crucial for effective disease surveillance and intervention strategies in endemic regions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the flight capacity of sand flies, specifically their ability to traverse distances.
- To assess the potential for sand fly dispersal across geographical barriers.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Hoover Penido (HP)-type light traps to capture sand flies in the center of the Velhas' River.
- Conducted capture-recapture experiments, marking 1,450 sand flies with fluorescent powder and releasing them on the opposite river bank (approx. 150m).
- Attempted recaptures over 30 days to determine dispersal range.
Main Results:
- Six sand flies from three species (Nyssomyia neivai, Ny. intermedia, Evandromyia lenti) were captured in the river's center.
- No marked sand flies were recaptured, indicating limited dispersal over the 150m distance.
- The study captured a total of six sand flies in the river's center.
Conclusions:
- The observed limited flight capacity contradicts existing literature on sand fly vector mobility.
- Findings suggest that sand fly dispersal may be more restricted than previously assumed, impacting leishmaniasis transmission models.
- Further research is needed to reconcile these findings with established knowledge on sand fly behavior.
