Phlebotomine sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) from caves in Australia.

All three genera of phlebotomine sandflies recorded from the mainland of Australia are represented in collections from caves in Queensland. Phlebotomus (Australophlebotomus) mackerrasi Lewis and Dyce, Idiophlebotomus wellingsae (L. and D.) and Sergentomyia (Parrotomyia) trezkinni L. and D. achieve their biggest known populations in caves. Each has, however, been collected from outside environs. S. (P.) queenslandi (Hill) is most widespread and abundant across the continent and occurs less frequently in caves than in open situations where it is often associated with ground burrowing reptiles. Its occurrence in warmer caves may be linked with larger reptile predators of bats. S. (P.) curvata L. and D. is known as a single specimen from a cave. Hosts for the cave dominants are unknown but the regular concurrence with bats may be indicative. Immature stages of S. trezkinni and S. queenslandi have been recovered from isolated pellets of bat faeces and adults link reared. None of the species has been reared from mass accumulation of bat guano, and none of the species shows special adaptation for life in caves.