Phlebotomus
Phlebotomus
Taxonomy
- Kingdom Animalia
- Phylum Arthropoda
- Class Insecta
- Order Diptera
- Suborder Nematocera
- Family Psychodidae
Final host
Mammal, birds and reptiles
Morphology
Adults: small (up to 5 mm long) nematoceran flies characterised by their hairy appearance, large black eyes and long legs The wings are lanceolate, covered in hairs and held erect over the body at rest The mouthparts are adapted for piercing and sucking, with a proboscis of short to medium lengh, shorter than the maxillary palps In both sexes the antennae are long, filamentous and covered in fine setae
Cycle
Holometabolous with four stages (egg, larva, pupa and adult) Preimaginal stages are terrestrial Only the adult female is parasitic
Location
Skin (only contact to feed themselves)
Feeding
Partially haematophagous (adult females) Vegetal juices complete their diet
Diagnostic
Adults
Transmission
Adults
