First record of Lutzomyia cruzi and phlebotomine sand fly diversity in a rural settlement of the metropolitan area in Central-west Brazil.

The state of Mato Grosso harbors a high species richness of phlebotomine sand flies, among which Lutzomyia longipalpis and Lutzomyia cruzi stand out as recognized vectors of the protozoan Leishmania infantum, the etiological agent of visceral leishmaniasis. This study aimed to conduct an entomological survey in a rural settlement located in the municipality of Várzea Grande, Mato Grosso, Brazil. Collections were carried out between September 2023 and March 2024 at ten sampling points distributed across residential (RZ) and agricultural (AZ) zones. A total of 220 phlebotomine sand flies were captured, belonging to six genera and eleven species. The most abundant species was Evandromyia lenti. Three species of recognized epidemiological importance were identified: Lu. cruzi, Lu. longipalpis and Nyssomyia whitmani, with the latter recorded for the first time in Várzea Grande municipality. The results indicate low diversity and evenness in both sampled environments, with greater community balance in the AZ and higher dominance in the RZ. These findings suggest low diversity, high dominance, and potential ecological imbalance, particularly in areas with a higher degree of anthropogenic disturbance. The novel record of Lu. cruzi highlights the need for continuous entomological surveillance given the potential risk of leishmaniasis transmission in the region.