Defining the ecology of the sand fly, Lutzomyia verrucarum (Diptera: Psychodidae) using population genetics and geographic information systems

Population genetics and geographic information systems were combined to understand the distribution of the sand fly, Lutzomyia verrucarum in Peru. Understanding the relationships between sand fly populations and the environmental factors governing its dispersal are necessary for developing control strategies to reduce disease transmission. Using a newly developed light emitting diode based light trapping system, 8,266 sand flies were collected in transects from the three principal valleys of Ancash, Peru. The light trapping results indicate ultraviolet light a strong sand fly photo-attractant and add 5 new location records of L. verrucarum distribution in Ancash.;The Ancash captures and five additional collections in provinces that include the known distribution of L. verrucarum were used in a phylogenetic analysis to assign and rank 11 species of the Verrucarum group. A 667 bp sequence of cytochrome oxidase I, clustered the 11 species into 3 rnonophyletic clades corresponding to the morphological series groupings. Furthermore, 7 individual species were grouped into well-supported monophyletic lineages. Nucleotide divergence of 55 L. verrucarum indicated high intraspecies variation.;A gene network analysis was undertaken with 220 L. verrucarum individuals obtained from 7 geographically distinct populations within Peru using mitochondrial genes consisting of a 653 bp fragment of cytochrome b and a 1,175 bp of NADH dehydrogenase subunit 4. Low (0-0.5%) nucleotide divergence was found within populations whereas between populations, apparent migration barriers maintained high (0.8-3.1%) divergence.;The L. verrucarum collection data from Ancash were used in association with remote sensing data to classify suitable sand fly habitats. Sand fly habitat range was defined using the following abiotic variables: elevation, annual rainfall and temperature (average, minimum and maximum). To identify migration barriers, these classifications were then projected to the political boundaries of Peru, which encompass the known L. verrucarum range. Unsuitable habitat areas between populations were generally associated with high (>3,000 m) and low (<1,500 m) elevations. Between eastern and western Peru, elevation classifications best defined sand fly habitat suitability likely due its high correlation to environmental factors such as relative humidity and temperature.