Phlebotomus (Euphlebotomus) sp.

Phlebotomus (Euphlebotomus) argentipes Annandale & Brunetti 1908, the major vector of visceral Leishmaniasis in India, is known to occur in Thailand (Apiwathnasorn et al. 1989; Polseela et al. 2007). During the current study, a single female specimen of subgenus Euphlebotomus was collected in KYNP, and identified as P. argentipes using the key of Lewis (1978). But the specimen differed somewhat from the description P. argentipes in that the spermathecae are segmented, but more globular than elongate. P. argentipes has long been suspected as a complex; however, as shown by Muller et al. (2007), there are other species of subgenus Euphlebotomus in Thailand that are morphologically similar to P. argentipes, but are indeed distinct species. A new species will not be described based on this single female specimen, but future collections of males and females will help determine whether this specimen represents a new species.

Material examined. THAILAND. NAKHON NAYOK PROVINCE: Khao Yai National Park: dam @ lake near guesthouse, 14°24’N 101°22’E, 13.ix.2009, [1 female] coll. G.R. Curler, CDC trap.