Phenotypic variation among local populations of phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in southern Turkey

Abstract

The wing-shape morphology of local populations of the medically important phlebotomine sand flies, Phlebotomus sergenti, P papatasi, P tobbi, and P similis, were examined in both sexes by using geometric morphometrics. There are three major mountain ranges that may serve as geographical barriers for species distribution in the study area and four main gaps were recognized among these barriers. We found no statistically important differences in wing morphology in all examined species in both sexes for all local populations. These results show that the barriers are not sufficient to stop gene flow among local populations of sand flies. The graphical depiction of PCA, CVA, and F-test confirmed our morphometric study suggesting that the difference in wing morphology between P similis and R sergenti indicates that these are clearly different species. These two show sympatric distribution in the Konya Plain of Anatolia.