Pheromone disseminating structures in tergites of male phlebotomines (Diptera: Psychodidae)

Abstract

Abstract Following the examination of 53 Lutzomyia spp., seven Phlebotomus spp. and five Sergentomyia spp. (Diptera: Psychodidae) new observations are recorded on the presence of pheromone disseminating structures on the tergites of male phlebotomine sandflies. Descriptions are given of 11 of the species which include structures such as simple cuticular pores in craters, pores with emergent spines, and mammiform papules with or without spiny processes. Pheromone papule distribution on the tergites of Lutzomyia pessoai (Coutinho & Barretto) is plotted and gas chromatography and GC-mass spectroscopy have been used to demonstrate the presence of a diterpene compound similar to a sexual attractant pheromone observed in some L. longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva) populations.