ECOLOGY OF SERGENTOMYIA GARNHAMI, (DIPTERA, PSYCHODIDAE) IN A KALA-AZAR ENDEMIC AREA OF TSEIKURU, KITUI DISTRICT, KENYA .1. THE BREEDING SITES

The breeding sites of S. garnhami and other phlebotomine sandflies wer e investigated from February 1989 - June 1990. Sandflies were recovere d from 15 out of the 17 ecological habitats studied while S. garnhami was recovered from fourteen. Termite hills were the most preferred bre eding sites for most phlebotomine sandflies but it was not possible to identify the preferred breeding sites of S. garnhami as all the sites yielded only one to three flies. S. garnhami were recovered from soil samples from both inside and outside human homes as well as from sylv atic sites. Daily pattern of emergence of sandflies showed that 60 day s were sufficient for most sandflies to emerge while at least 100 days were required for S. garnhami.