Phlebotomine sand flies have long been incriminated as vectors of leishmaniasis in
various parts of both the Old and New World. Prompted by recent indigenous cases of
leishmaniasis in Thailand, a bionomic study of sand flies was undertaken in Tham Phra
Phothisat temple, Saraburi province. In this study, sand flies were collected using Centers for
Disease Control (CDC) light traps, to clarify the activity patterns and species composition of
the sand flies. Traps were laid from August 2005 to July 2006. The insects were collected
monthly between 1800-0600 hours. A total of 8,131 sand flies were collected with a
female:male ratio of 1.9:1. Sixteen species were identified, of which 5 belonged to the genus
Phlebotomus, 9 to Sergentomyia and 1 to Chinius. Species comprised the abundant species
(Sergentomyia silvatica 35.6%, Sergentomyia barraudi 18.1%, Sergentomyia anodontis,
17.1%, Sergentomyia iyengari 11.9%, and Sergentomyia gemmea 11.2%); the less common
species (<2%) were Sergentomyia dentata 1.8%, Phlebotomus stantoni 1.1%, Sergentomyia
indica 1.0%, Phlebotomus argentipes 0.8%, Sergentomyia perturbans 0.4%, Chinius barbazani
0.3%, Phlebotomus asperulus 0.2%, Phlebotomus philippinensis gouldi 0.1%, Phlebotomus
major major 0.1%, Sergentomyia quatei 0.1% and Sergentomyia bailyi 0.1%. The results
revealed seasonal variation in sand fly prevalence, with the highest peak in July. Soil samples
collected were characterized by alkaline (pH 7.6).