Phlebotomine Sandflies (Diptera: psychodidae) in Different Localities of Dhamar Governorate,Yemen.

The present study aimed to reveal the cutaneous leishmaniasis disease caused by Leishmania tropica, which is endemic in Dhamar Governorate and has become an outbreak in the country's northeastern in Yemen. In this study, sandflies (Diptera: psychodidae) were collected from two villages ,Al-Hamh and Al-Ahsaa. Sandflies were collected once a month from May to November 2023, using sticky traps that were put in both home and non-home locations.385specimens were collected (62.08%females/ 37.92% males). The sample comprised five species, divided into two classes: Phlebotomus (65.88%), formed by Phlebotomus sergenti (51.17%),Phlebotomus papatasi (12.47%)and Phlebotomus alexandri(4.16%) and Sergentomyia (34.12%),based on Sergentomyia taizi(22.34%) and Sergentomyia africana(9.87%).Ph. sergenti predominated in Al-Hamh and Al-Ahsaa followed by Se. taizi and Ph. papatasi. Over the course of their eight-month active life cycle, which ran from May to November, the population dynamics displayed a bimodal pattern, with the two examined stations noticing their first peak in June and the second peak occurring in October for Al-Ahsaa and August for Al-Hamh. This activity indicated a high potential risk of Leishmania tropica and Leishmania major. This study can help build suitable and efficient vector control plans by providing information on the abundance, richness, seasonal trend, sex ratio, and degree of presence of various sand fly species in this dynamic area.