The seasonal and daily activities of Phlebotomus papatasi in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The seasonal abundance of P. papatasi was determined by monthly collection. It was found that the greatest number of sandflies occurred most commonly during the summer season with a peak in June and another one in September. Male to female ratio was 1:1.25 in Riyadh and 1:1.48 in Al Kharj. During the winter season no insect was found and then the population density started to appear again from March. The daily indoor activity of P. papatasi was in May, in the periphery of Riyadh city, showed largest amount of Phlebotomus from 10-11 pm. with sex ratio (male to female) 1:3.5 and from 4-5 am. with a sex ratio (male to female) 1:3. In the central area of Riyadh city, the highest number was from 9-11 pm. with a sex ratio (male to female) 1:3.5 also from 4-5 am. with sex ratio 1: 3. The daily outdoor activity was in June, in the peripheral area in Al Kharj city, showed the highest number from 7-9 pm. with a sex ratio (male to female) 1: 2.3 and from 5-7 am. with a sex ratio 1:1.3, while in the central area of Al Kharj, the highest number was from 7-9 pm. with a sex ratio 1: 1.1 and from 5-7 am. with a sex ratio 1: 0.9. Both the indoor and outdoor collections showed that the number of females P. papatasi were higher than number of the males, and the sandflies were more abundant in the periphery than in the central of both Riyadh and Al Kharj cities.
Morsy
T A
TA
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
Abou el-Ela
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RG
Rifaat
M M
MM
al Dakhil
M A
MA
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D008297:Male; D010691:Phlebotomus / Q000502:physiology; D011156:Population Density; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D012621:Seasons; D012744:Sex Ratio