Bioassays as an Indicator of Pheromone Communication in Lutzomyia Longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae)

Abstract

The sandfly Lutzomyia longipalpis is the vector of Leishmania donovani chagasi, the causative organism of visceral leishmaniasis in Central and South America. The males have pale tergal spots on the abdomen, with some bearing one pair on the 4th segment, whilst others have partial or full development of an additional pair of spots on the 3rd segment. These spots are the sites of pheromone emission from glands which lie beneath the cuticle (Lane & Ward, 1984; Lane et al., 1985). Different populations produce different pheromones and these appear to act as sexual recognition signals which ensure mating between conspecific members of the Lu. longipalpis complex (Ward, 1983; 1986).