The sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Tartous governorate Syrian Arab Republic

The governorate of Tartous, which lies on the east Mediterranean coast in the west of Syria, is considered an important endemic area for human cutaneous leishmaniasis (HCL). Between June and October 2004, 988 sand flies were collected, from 13 villages distributed in five principle areas of the governorate, by using sticky paper (SP) and CDC traps. The 20/988 sand flies caught, belonged to the genus Sergentomyia, whereas 968/988 sand flies were Phlebotomus species. The Sergentomyia caught were S. dentata (2%). The identified Phlebotomus were P. papatasi (49.8%), P. syriacus (35.5%), P. tobbi (10.8%), P. neglectus (0.6%), P. jacusieli (0.7%), and P. simici (0.5%). The later two species are recorded for the first time in Tartous governorate.