In Europe, sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) are characteristic Mediterranean fauna, though some species expand their range further north. However, the sand fly fauna of Central Europe remains underreported, particularly in Hungary where recent data is lacking due to limited and outdated entomological surveys. To address this gap, a series of sand fly surveys were conducted in Hungary, with significant findings from two trapping efforts in 2017 and 2024. In 2017, only a single female Phlebotomus papatasi was trapped in northern Hungary, which marks one of the northernmost records of the species. In 2024, a more extensive and geographically wider survey recorded 264 sand flies at 34 sites, including three species: Ph. mascittii, Ph. neglectus, and Ph. papatasi. Sand flies were found across diverse environmental settings, including urban, agricultural, and natural habitats. Particularly, the previously rare presence of Ph. mascittii at rural sites (natural rock formations) was reported. Analysis of historical and current data revealed the presence of four sand fly species in Central and South Transdanubia, with evidence suggesting potential range expansion. Blood meal analysis of engorged females identified a variety of domestic and wild host species, but no Leishmania or Phlebovirus infections were detected. Habitat modelling and linear discriminant analysis indicated substantial climate suitability across Southeast Europe, with most positive sand fly observations observed in discontinuous urban fabric CORINE Land Cover classes. This study offers important insights into the ecology, distribution, and climatic preferences of sand flies in Hungary and provides crucial baseline data to monitor potential future spread.

• Klíčová slova
• Barcoding, Blood meal, Central Europe, Ecology, MALDI-MS, Sand flies,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Phlebotominae) are the principal vectors of Leishmania spp. (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae). In Central Europe, Phlebotomus mascittii is the predominant species, but largely understudied. To better understand factors driving its current distribution, we infer patterns of genetic diversity by testing for signals of population expansion based on two mitochondrial genes and model current and past climate and habitat suitability for seven post-glacial maximum periods, taking 19 climatic variables into account. Consequently, we elucidate their connections by environmental-geographical network analysis. Most analyzed populations share a main haplotype tracing back to a single glacial maximum refuge area on the Mediterranean coasts of South France, which is supported by network analysis. The rapid range expansion of Ph. mascittii likely started in the early mid-Holocene epoch until today and its spread possibly followed two routes. The first one was through northern France to Germany and then Belgium, and the second across the Ligurian coast through present-day Slovenia to Austria, toward the northern Balkans. Here we present a combined approach to reveal glacial refugia and post-glacial spread of Ph. mascittii and observed discrepancies between the modelled and the current known distribution might reveal yet overlooked populations and potential further spread.

• MeSH
• hmyz - vektory genetika   MeSH
• Leishmania * MeSH
• Phlebotomus * genetika   MeSH
• Psychodidae * MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Evropa MeSH