Habitat preferences of phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in southwestern Morocco.

Data from a 4-yr study of phlebotomine sand flies in 44 stations in southwestern Morocco are presented. Correspondence analysis is used to describe the habitat preferences of nine sand fly species on a meso-scale (station) and a micro-scale (biotope). This work, based on highly diversified data from various stations, comprising several biotopes sampled during different seasons, provides new information on the ecology of sand flies in southwestern Morocco. It highlights many natural and artificial factors that affect the abundance and distribution of sand fly populations. The impact of climate, urbanization, proximity of humans and domestic animals, organic matter in the soil, shelter, and vegetation type is discussed.