Phlebotomine sandflies of Cyprus.: III -: Species inventory

Three surveys on canine leishmaniasis were carried out in Cyprus (1993, 1998 and 1999) emphasise the presence of eleven species of phlebotomine sandflies Phlebotomus (Phlebotomus) papatasi, P. (Paraphlebotomus) alexandri, P, (Pa.) jacusieii (first mention in Cyprus), P, (Pa.) sergenti, P, (Larroussius) galilaeus, P. ii.) tobbi, P. (Transphlebotomus) economidesi, P. (T.) mascittii, Sergentomyia (Sergentomyia) azizi (its specific statute is validated by the authors), S. (S.) fallax et S, (S.) minuta. P. (Adlerius) kyreniae was not caught during the surveys. The authors propose hypothesis of settlement of the island by phlebotomine sandflies according this species inventory. A first migration period took probably place during the Miocene time and a second one during the Pleistocene time.