Description of Sergentomyia phadangensis n. sp. (Diptera, Psychodidae) of Thailand

BACKGROUND: Since 1996, there are emerging autochthonous cases of leishmaniasis in Thailand due to Leishmania “siamensis” and to L. martiniquensis explaining a recent interest for the sand fly fauna where Sergentomyia gemmea and Se. barraudi have been considered possible vectors in the country. METHODS: Field studies were undertaken in a cave of Phitsanulok Province, Thailand. Phlebotomine sandflies have been studied morphologically and some have been processed for molecular biology (sequencing of cytB rDNA). RESULTS: A new species of sand fly, belonging to the genus Sergentomyia: Se. phadangensis n. sp., is described. The association of the male and female is supported by the homology of the sequences of cytochrome b rDNA. CONCLUSIONS: The description of a new species in Thailand is of importance in view of the existence of autochthonous leishmaniases.