On distinguishing the female of<i>Psychodopygus wellcomei</i>, a vector of mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, from other<i>squamiventris</i>series females

Abstract

The present inability to distinguish accurately Psychodopygus wellcomei females from other females of the series squamiventris, is a serious hindrance to epidemiological studies on mucocutaneous leishmaniasis in Amazônia, where only Ps. wellcomei is a proven vector. The first step in reappraising the taxonomy of the series has been the characterization of two of its many non-dimensional taxa. These are now recognized as Ps. squamiventris squamiventris and Ps. s. maripaensis stat. nov., following a morphological study of seven geographically separate adult populations from northeastern Amazônia, including wild and laboratory-reared material from the type locality of Ps. squamiventris (Lutz and Neiva, 1912). The specific status of Pi. complexus is confirmed and the geographical ranges of some of the taxa of the series are amended.