On the Phlebotominae of Iran

Abstract: Observations on the taxonomy, habitats and distribution of the 34 phlebotomine sandflies of Iran are recorded. Twenty species belong to Phlebotomus and 14 to Sergentomyia. A new subgenus of Sergentomyia, 2 new species and a new subspecies in Phlebotomus and a new subspecies of Sergentomyia dreyfussi are described. Collection of sandflies (Phlebotominae) in Iran has been carried out in the past generally in small areas of the country and during short periods. Thus, the collections reported on by Adler, Theodor and Lourie (1930) were made in the NW of the country (Kerman-shah, Hamadan, Teheran and Resht). Seven species were found, two of which proved new. Pervomaiski (1948) studied sandflies in a small area in north Iran near the Caspian Sea and in the Elburz Mountains. Lewis (1957) reported on a small collection mainly from NE Iran (Khorazan, Sabzevar area). He de-scribed P. ansarii and recorded four species of Sergen-tomyia, three of which were new for the country. Lewis, Mesghali and Djanbakhsh (1961) collected sandflies in NW Iran (Tabriz area) and from Teheran, and from Kazerun near the Persian Gulf from where they described S. iranica and added several species of Sergentomyia to the list of species. The first general review of the sandfly fauna of Iran was given by Mesghali (1961) who reported 10 species of Phlebotomus and 7 species of Sergentomyia and men-tions 2 additional species of Phlebotomus and 4 of Sergentomyia in an addendum. The distribution of the species, as far as is known, is given on maps. Although the papers mentioned cover a large part of the country, there remained large parts of the country from which little is known, particularly in the east and south. Thanks to a grant from WHO (Dr Ansari) and th