Oviposition-Site Selection of Phlebotomus papatasi (Diptera: Psychodidae) Sand Flies: Attraction to Bacterial Isolates From an Attractive Rearing Medium.

ABSTRACT: Phlebotomine sand flies are worldwide vectors of Leishmania parasites as well as other bacterial and viral pathogens. Due to the variable impact of traditional vector control practices, a more ecologically based approach is needed. The goal of this study was to isolate bacteria from the most attractive substrate to gravid Phlebotomus papatasi Scopoli sand flies and determine the role of bacterial volatiles in the oviposition attractancy of P. papatasi using behavioral assays. We hypothesized that gravid sand flies are attracted to bacterially derived semiochemical cues associated with breeding sites. Bacteria were isolated from a larvae-conditioned rearing medium, previously shown to be highly attractive to sand flies. The isolated bacteria were identified by amplifying and sequencing 16S

SUBMITTER: Kakumanu ML 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7954094 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature