Introduction: Himachal Pradesh, an ecologically diverse state in northern India, has recently emerged as a focus of atypical cutaneous leishmaniasis. As part of a molecular xenomonitoring, systematic entomological surveillance of sand flies resulted in the reporting of a novel species, Methods: A systematic cross-sectional entomological survey was carried out in the districts of Kinnaur, Kullu, Shimla, and Mandi during August 2022, employing standard sand-fly collection techniques. Molecular characterization was performed using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene-based DNA barcoding, followed by phylogenetic analysis of the generated sequences. Results: The study reports Discussion: Despite its diverse physiography, rich biodiversity, and ecological suitability for sand fly breeding, Himachal Pradesh has lacked systematic entomological surveillance. The present study contributes to bridging this gap by expanding the existing knowledge of sand fly fauna in the state and providing comprehensive morphological and molecular characterization of this newly described species.