Phlebotominae

Adults are small, delicate flies with hairy bodies and wings. Identification to genus and species requires examination of male genitalia, spermathecae in females, and other morphological characters including cibarial armature, pharyngeal armature, and wing venation. Some species complexes (such as the Shannoni complex in Psathyromyia) present identification challenges due to morphological similarity between females, while males are more readily distinguished. Anomalies in antennae, palps, legs, wings, and genitalia have been documented and can complicate identification.

Cosmopolitan in tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate regions. Documented from Madagascar and neighboring islands (Seychelles, Comoros), Iraq, Brazil (including Amazon region, São Paulo state, Minas Gerais), and numerous other localities worldwide. Some species show broad distributions (e.g., P. fertei across Madagascar), while others have highly restricted ranges.

Adult females of many species are hematophagous, feeding on vertebrate blood. Blood meal sources vary by species and may include mammals, birds, and reptiles.

Complete metamorphosis with egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages. Larval development occurs in moist terrestrial habitats. Specific developmental details vary among species.

Females of many species bite humans and other vertebrates to obtain blood meals. Some species in the genus Psathyromyia have been found in urban environments near human habitation, while others inhabit forested regions.

Many species serve as vectors of human and animal diseases. In the New World, Lutzomyia species transmit leishmaniasis; in the Old World, Phlebotomus species are primary vectors. P. sergenti is the principal vector of oriental sore (cutaneous leishmaniasis) in Iraq. Some species may be potential vectors of leishmaniasis in the Amazon region.

Major medical importance as vectors of leishmaniasis (cutaneous and visceral), bartonellosis (Carrión's disease), and pappataci fever. Leishmaniasis DNA screening in sand flies from Madagascar yielded negative results, though the subfamily remains of significant epidemiological concern in endemic regions worldwide.

• PsychodinaeBoth are subfamilies within Psychodidae; Psychodinae are generally non-hematophagous moth flies with different ecological habits and lack the blood-feeding mouthpart adaptations and disease vector importance of Phlebotominae
• CeratopogonidaeBiting midges are small blood-feeding flies that overlap in size and some habitats; distinguished by wing venation, shorter antennae, and different mouthpart structure
• SimuliidaeBlack flies are small blood-feeding Diptera with medical importance; distinguished by humped thorax, short antennae, and aquatic larval habitats

• BugGuide
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• New Sand Fly Species Continue To Be Discovered in Brazil
• New Sand Fly Species Discovered in Brazil
• The Sandflies (Phlebotominae) of Iraq
• Contribution à l’inventaire des Phlébotomes (Psychodidae – Phlebotominae) de Madagascar et des îles voisines
• Description of anomalies in sand flies of the genus Sciopemyia (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae)
• Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) fauna in Unaí, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil.
• Correction: On the integrative taxonomy of Trichophoromyia Barretto, 1962 and its relationship with Nyssomyia Barretto, 1962 (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae): species delimitation, phylogeny, genus and subgenus description.