First finding of Lutzomyia tihuiliensis (Diptera: Psychodidae) in the Valle de Aburrá, Colombia

Abstract

Introduction. Three of the seven species that comprise the pia series of the Lutzomyia verrucarum group have been recorded in Colombia, including L. pia, L. limafalcaoae and L. emberai.

Objective. The aim of this paper is to report the occurrence of an anthropophilic morphospecies of the pia series in the country.

Materials and Methods. Sand flies were collected with a mouth aspirator on protected human bait in a secondary forest in the municipality of Envigado, department of Antioquia. The entomological survey was performed from 18:00 to 22:00 hours in June and December, 2004.

Results. Captured specimens were identified as L. tihuiliensis, which can be distinguished easily from other species of the pia series by its basally pigmented pleura, the length of the labro-epipharynx, ³350 µm, and the length of the second palpomere, ³170 µm. In addition to the previous characters, the sand flies collected exhibit a longer common sperm duct than the individual ducts with the ratio of the lengths of the common/individual ducts ³2.

Conclusion. The finding of L. tihuiliensis raises to 21 the number of species of the Lutzomyia verrucarum group recorded to date in Colombia, including two endemic species of the pia series. From a biogeographical point of view, the presence of four species of the pia series in Colombia is of great interest for the study of the origin of the taxon.