The Australian Species of the Genus Phlebotomus

Abstract

Until about ten years ago Australia was considered to be free from the haematophagous Diptera of the genus Phlebotomus, which are found abundantly in all other regions of the earth, over one hundred species having been recorded. Mr. G. F. Hill was the first entomologist to discover in Australia a species of the minutus group, which he described under the name of P. queenslandi. This species was found in Townsville, North Queensland, in a bath-room, and nine flies were secured. It has not been found again since, either there or lower down the Australian east coast, where such experienced entomologists as Drs. Bancroft, Ferguson and Mackerras, have kept a special look-out for these flies.