Vertebrate excreta based semiochemical influencing oviposition & neonates' survival in Phlebotomus argentipes- Visceral Leishmaniasis vector in Indian subcontinent.

Abstract

Present study deals with the comparative evaluation of attraction of female Phlebotomus argentipes (Diptera: Psychodidae), Indian Visceral Leishmaniasis vector towards the vertebrate excreta viz., cow’s manure and rabbit’s faeces through the 3-way bioassay choice chamber. Also, its stimulatory effect on females’ oviposition as well as growth and development of forthcoming generation was studied through bioassay experiment. From the study, it was observed that 71.42% female P. argentipes preferred the surface treated with rabbit’s larval rearing medium (RLM) over the cow’s larval rearing medium (CLM) i.e., 28.57% for egg deposition purpose, while the best survival support for the developing stages of sand flies leading to the higher number of adult emergence i.e., 95.39% was observed in case of cow’s larval rearing medium, as compared to those in case of rabbit’s larval rearing medium with 46.21% adult emergence. These studies will definitely catalyze our present knowledge regarding the sand fly’s behavior especially related to oviposition followed by strengthening of sand fly colony in controlled condition.