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Background  Phlebotomine sand flies are the principal vectors of  Leishmania  spp. (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae). Information on sand flies in Central Europe is scarce and, to date, in Austria, only  Phlebotomus mascittii  has been recorded. In 2018 and 2019, entomological surveys were conducted in Austria with the aim to further clarify sand fly distribution and species composition.    Results  In 2019, a  Ph. simici  specimen was trapped in Austria for the first time. Analyses of two commonly used marker genes, cytochrome  c  oxidase I ( cox  I ) and cytochrome  b  ( cytb ), revealed high sequence identity with  Ph. simici  specimens from North Macedonia and Greece. Phylogenetic analyses showed high intraspecific distances within  Ph. simici , thereby dividing this species into three lineages: one each from Europe, Turkey and Israel. Low interspecific distances between  Ph. simici ,  Ph. brevis  and an as yet unidentified  Adlerius  sp. from Turkey and Armenia highlight how challenging molecular identification within the  Adlerius  complex can be, even when standard marker genes are applied.    Conclusion  To our knowledge, this study reports the first finding of  Ph. simici  in Austria, representing the northernmost recording of this species to date. Moreover, it reveals valuable insights into the phylogenetic relationships among species within the subgenus  Adlerius .  Phlebotomus simici  is a suspected vector of  L. infantum  and therefore of medical and veterinary importance. Potential sand fly expansion in Central Europe due to climatic change and the increasing import of  Leishmania -infected dogs from endemic areas support the need for further studies on sand fly distribution in Austria and Central Europe in general.    Graphic abstract

Phlebotomus (Adlerius) simici NITZULESCU, 1931: first record in Austria and phylogenetic relationship with other Adlerius species