Sand Flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) Associated with Visceral Leishmaniasis in El Agamy, Alexandria Governorate, Egypt II. Field behavior1

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Abstract
Behavioral patterns of Phlebotomus papatasi and langeroni were studied in El Agamy, a focus of visceral leishmaniasis in Alexandria Governorate, Egypt. Both species were nocturnally active in outdoor habitats from sunset to sunrise, with highest activity levels after midnight. Phlebotomus papatasi, a highly endophilic species, began entering houses directly after sunset; ingress was estimated at 17% before 2300 h and 83% from 2300 h to sunrise. Blood-engorgement rates inside houses were 75% for P. papatasi (n = 2,238) and 52% for P. langeroni (n = 23). Phlebotomus papatasi was gonotrophically discordant, as 14% of 222 indoor-collected, half-gravid females contained small, fresh blood meals. Phlebotomus papatasi rested inside houses during all stages of gonotrophic development, apparently with frequent ingress and egress. A total of 514 P. papatasi and 158 P. langeroni were tested for fructose by the anthrone technique. Sugar-feeding rates for both species inside houses, in different stages of blood digestion, ranged from 25 to 62%; ca. 60% of the freshly engorged females had fed on sugar. Outdoor rates were 32% for P. papatasi females, 55% for P. papatasi males and P. langeroni females, and 57% for male P. langeroni. Phlebotomus langeroni showed a greater attraction than P. papatasi to light traps and dog-baited traps. Behavioral differences between the 2 species are discussed in relation to potential for Leishmania transmission.

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