Environmental factors underlying spatial patterns of sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) associated with leishmaniasis in southern Sinai, Egypt

► Sand fly species collected from southern Sinai tended to cluster in space, except Phlebotomus papatasi which was found dispersed across the study area. ► There is a significant spatial association between Phlebotomus alexandri and Phlebotomus kazeruni. ► They are estimated to be the most widely distributed sand fly species in southern Sinai. ► GIS-assisted spatial analysis indicated that Phlebotomus kazeruni, Phlebotomus alexandri, Phlebotomus sergenti and Phlebotomus papatasi are ecological generalists, able to inhabit diverse environmental settings. ► Phlebotomus major, Phlebotomus arabicus and Phlebotomus orientalis had more limited distributions, suggesting that they have more restricted ecological conditions.