COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF MOUTHPARTS OF THE PHLEBOTOMINE SAND FLIES LUTZOMYIA-LONGIPALPIS, L-SHANNONI, AND PHLEBOTOMUS-PAPATASI (DIPTERA, PSYCHODIDAE)

Mouthparts of adult male and female Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiv a), L. shannoni (Dyar), and Phlebotomus papatasi Scopoli were examined by light and scanning electron microscopy. Parameters compared includ e length and width of mandible, hypopharynx, labrum, maxillary palp (l ength only), lacinia (length and number of lateral and medial teeth); and number of teeth or spicules and length of tooth or spicule row on mandible, hypopharynx, and labrum. Female P. papatasi possess signific antly longer mandibles, labrum, hypopharynx, laciniae, and maxillary p alps than either L. longipalpis or L. shannoni. Significantly more tee th were present on mandibles and hypopharynx of female L. shannoni tha n on those of female L. longipalpis or P. papatasi. The hypopharynx an d maxillary palps were significantly shorter in male L. shannoni than in male L. longipalpis or P. papatasi. Females of each species had sig nificantly more medial teeth on the lacinia than did males of the same species.