Wild-caught phlebotomine sandflies were captured from rock crevices and termite hills and released into feeding cages containing various species of laboratory animals, to find suitable hosts for feeding flies for experimental or breeding purposes. Flies captured from rock crevices did not feed as well as those human-baited at termite hills. The ubiquitous species from the termite hills was Phlebotomus martini, the major vector of kala-azar in the study area (Machakos District of Kenya). This anthropophilic species feeds readily on the mammalian laboratory animals. Cooling flies before feeding stimulated them to feed.
