Comparative study of the mouthparts of males and females of Lutzomyia migonei (Diptera: Psychodidae) by scanning electron microscopy

Abstract

The mouthparts of both males and females of Lutzomyia migonei França were compared by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscopy (LM), and their structures are herein described. Mandibles are present in both sexes but in males they are reduced and, in contrast to females, no teeth were observed. As in females, the laciniae in males are highly sclerotized, but the number of lateral teeth are reduced and retrorse teeth are absent. Only females possess teeth at the tip of the hypopharynx, whereas in males they are substituted by spicula. Except for the length from the junction with the hypopharynx to the tip, which is shorter in males than in females, the labrum is similar in both sexes in terms of form and sensilla. On the labrum of males sensilla could be detected similar to the apical sensilla of females which play a role in the identification of blood.