Paraphyly of the subgenus A naphlebotomus and creation of M adaphlebotomus subg. nov. ( P hlebotominae: P hlebotomus )

The systematic position of the M alagasy P hlebotomus ( D iptera: P sychodidae) species was assessed in molecular phylogenetic studies. Three molecular markers were sequenced: cytochrome b of the mitochondrial DNA ; ITS2 , and the D8 domain of the ribosomal DNA . The following species were studied: P hlebotomus ( A naphlebotomus ) berentiensis , Phlebotomus ( A naphlebotomus ) fertei , P hlebotomus ( A naphlebotomus ) fontenillei , Phlebotomus ( A naphlebotomus ) vaomalalae and P hlebotomus ( A naphlebotomus ) vincenti from M adagascar; P hlebotomus ( A naphlebotomus ) stantoni from A sia, and P hlebotomus ( A naphlebotomus ) rodhaini from A frica. The following outgroups were selected: P hlebotomus ( E uphlebotomus ) argentipes , P hlebotomus ( E uphlebotomus ) barguesae , P hlebotomus ( L arroussius ) perfiliewi s.l. and P hlebotomus ( A dlerius ) simici . Each marker analysed by maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood supports the monophyly of the M alagasy P hlebotomus spp. Consequently, we create a new subgenus for these species: M adaphlebotomus subg. nov. This molecular individualization is reinforced by the originality of their spermathecae and by the fact that their geographical distribution is limited to M adagascar, and considers the high level of endemism on this island.