title: The distribution of phlebotomine sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in northern Nigeria.
abstract: A survey was carried out in Northern Nigeria to determine the distribution of the species of phlebotomine sandflies in the major vegetation zones: Sahel, Sudan, Northern Guinea Savanna, and Southern Guinea Savanna. The two Old World Genera, Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia, are both represented in the study area, with an overwhelming preponderance of Sergentomyia species; about 99% of the entire collection (12, 951 specimens) belong to the genus Sergentomyia. Out of the thirteen species identified, two belong to the genus Phlebotomus: Phlebotomus duboscqi and Phlebotomus rodhaini; the remaining eleven are species of the genus Sergentomyia grouped under series simillama and two subgenera (antennata, bedfordi, africana, schwetzi, ingrami, and buxtoni in the subgenus Sergentomyia and affinis, adleri, clydei and christophersi under Sintonius subgenus. P. duboscqi occurs in Sahel and Sudan zones whereas P. rodhaini exists mainly in the Guinea Savanna (north and south). In general, the distribution of the species in the subgenus Sergentomyia (particularly antennatta, bedfordi, africana, and schwetzi) cuts across all the four vegetation zones. The least common species, simillima, was found only in the North Guinea Savanna. Members of the Sintonius group were obtained from Sudan and Northern Guinea Savanna zones.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Asimeng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D009549:Nigeria; D010691:Phlebotomus / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology; D011576:Psychodidae / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*