DIAGNOSTIC-IMPORTANCE OF FEMALE EXTERNAL GENITAL STRUCTURE OF PHLEBOTOMINE SAND FLIES (DIPTERA, PSYCHODIDAE) AS OBSERVED BY SCANNING ELECTRON-MICROSCOPY

Morphological description of sand flies has remained a neglected al ea . The different organs used in taxonomy have not yet been described ad equately with the scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We have examined the external genital structures of females of three Old World phlebot omine sand flies tinder SEM and recorded the morphological variations of the organs. We have found the female external genital structures of the three species varied considerably in morphology. The importance o f the female external genital structures in sandfly identification is indicated.