ABSTRACT
@#Despite the medical, veterinary and forensic relevance of myiasis-causing flies, knowledge of their diversity in Saudi Arabia is limited especially in the southern region. Therefore, a survey of myiasis-causing flies in the Jazan region was carried out using Red Top Fly Catcher traps baited with either decomposing beef liver or a lure composed primarily from fishmeal during the period April 2013-March 2014. Twelve known species were identified and recorded in this study, seven species of them belonging to Calliphoridae (Chrysomya, Lucilia, and Hemipyrella) and five species belonging to Sarcophagidae (Sarcophaga). Two of these species were recorded for the first time for Saudi Arabia, namely Hemipyrella pulchra (Wiedemann, 1830) and Sarcophaga (Liosarcophaga) exuberans Pandellé, 1896. Images of the species recorded are also provided for the first time. The results expand the knowledge of geographical distribution, fauna, and habitat of the myiasis-causing flies in Saudi Arabia. Biological information and world-wide geographical distribution of these species are included together with some taxonomic remarks.
ABSTRACT
Dengue hemorrhagic fever and Rift Valley fever are the most important mosquitoborne diseases in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The characteristic habitat requirements of Stegomyia aegypti and Culex tritaeniorhynchus, the two mosquito vectors will help in the identification of “high risk” areas in their development. Species distribution modelling was assessed by using MaxEnt software combined with geographical information systems (GIS) to predict suitable larval habitats for these two vectors and develop potential risk maps that can be used for their targeted control. Climate and topographical data layers from Worldclim and larval occurrence records were used to model these two vectors. The results showed that suitable habitats of St. aegypti are widely distributed only in the central region and Cx. tritaeniorhynchus were in the central and southwestern parts of Al-Bahah Province. The highest predictive power was shown by topographical variables in St. aegypti modeling and the minor contributions were shown by precipitation and temperature related variables. The maximum contribution was shown by temperature related variables and minor contribution was shown by topographical and precipitation related variables in Cx. tritaeniorhynchus modeling. Linear regression model indicates non significant correlation between TDS/pH and species abundance of these two mosquitoes.