Identification of plant tissues from the gut of Phlebotomus papatasi by DNA analysis

Sugar and cellulose assays can determine if an insect has fed on sugar and plant tissue but they cannot identify the species of source plant. In this study, we used DNA analysis together with traditional cellulose and sugar assays to examine the plant feeding habits of wild Phlebotomus papatasi during the dry season in the Lower Jordan Valley, Israel. About 37% of the sand flies were positive for sugar, 45% were positive for cellulose in the gut, and 41% contained amplifiable plant DNA. All of the plant DNA fragments sequenced from both males and females were identified as Suaeda asphaltica.

Graphical abstractIn this study, DNA analysis was used to determine the species of plant meals found in the guts of laboratory fed and field-caught Phlebotomus papatasi.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideResearch highlights▶ Phlebotomus papatasi from the lower Jordan Valley, Israel were examined for sugar feeding status. ▶ In the dry season, 37% of the sand flies were positive for sugar as shown by the cold anthrone test. ▶ 45% were positive for cellulose, suggesting sugar in the dry season comes from plant tissue meals. ▶ 41% contained amplifiable plant DNA that was matched to a Jordan Valley plant DNA reference library. ▶ Tissue feeding was highly specific; all tested sand flies contained Suaeda asphaltica DNA.