Phlebotomine Sand Flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) Population of Particular Ecosystem in the Urban and Periurban Area in Morocco

Abstract The Khettara is an abandoned irrigation system localized in Marrakech region, where no entomological investigations have been made. In the present study, sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) were collected with the aim to determine its abundance and species composition in this particular ecosystem. A total of 477 specimens were collected belonging to six species; Phlebotomus (Phlebotomus) papatasi (28.72%) was the predominant species followed by Sergentomyia (Grassomyia) dreyfussi (23.06%), S. (Sergentomyia) fallax (18.87%), S. (S.) minuta (10.69%), P. (Larroussius) longicuspis (9.85%), and P. (Paraphlebotomus) sergenti (8.81%). When, S. (G.) dreyfussi was collected for the first time in the urban area of Marrakech. The results showed important sand fly diversity in Khettara ecosystem compared to sand fly composition in urban area of Marrakech. In addition, of the six species of phlebotomine sand flies caught, three are proven vectors of leishmaniasis in Morocco. Thus, Marrakech region, and especially its Khettara ecosystem, should be regarded as a potential focus for leishmaniasis.