Background: Leishmaniasis is an important infectious disease in Iran. More than 20000 indigenous cases of the disease are yearly reported from Iran. Rudbar County of Guilan Province has been introduced as a new focus of leishmaniasis, however there is little published data about the sandflies (Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) of Guilan Province, northern Iran. So far ten species of sandflies have been reported in the province.Objectives: The present study is going to provide the seasonal activity of sandflies in Rudbar County of Guilan Province.Materials and Methods: To study the sandfly fauna, the sampling was carried out from ten localities of Guilan Province using light traps, sticky paper traps and manual aspirators during April–October 2016. For determination of seasonal activity, sampling was carried out in the fixed site of Pareh Village of Rudbar County every two weeks by the sticky paper traps and light traps. Sandflies were removed from the sticky paper traps, rinsed in acetone and then conserved in 80% ethanol as well as the samples of light traps and hand catch. The microscope slides of all samples were prepared using Puri s medium.Results: In total, 4430 specimens of sandflies of the genera
Phlebotomus and
Sergentomyia were collected and identified including Ph. kandelakii, Ph. neglectus, Ph. perfiliewi, Ph. sergenti, Ph. tobbi, Se. dentata and Se. theodori. The species Se. dentata was found for the first time in Guilan Province. The most prevalent species were Ph. tobbi (55.87%) and Ph. perfiliewi (36.03%), respectively. The seasonal activity of sandflies started in late May and showed the peak in late August and ended in middle October in the fixed site. Important vectors and most prevalent species, Ph. perfiliewi and Ph. tobbi, showed the peak of activity in late August sampled by light traps and the sticky paper traps.Conclusion: The prevalence of proven visceral leishmaniasis vectors, Ph. perfiliewi and Ph. tobbi, is noteworthy. Finding the exact vectors of leishmaniasis using specific tests in the province is suggested.