PHEROMONE DISSEMINATING STRUCTURES IN TERGITES OF MALE PHLEBOTOMINES (DIPTERA, PSYCHODIDAE)

Following the examination of 53 Lutzomyia spp., seven Phlebotomus spp. and five Sergentomyia spp. (Diptera: Psychodidae) new observations ar e recorded on the presence of pheromone disseminating structures on th e tergites of male phlebotomine sandflies. Descriptions are given of 1 1 of the species which include structures such as simple cuticular por es in craters, pores with emergent spines, and mammiform papules with or without spiny processes. Pheromone papule distribution on the tergi tes of Lutzomyia pessoai (Coutinho & Barretto) is plotted and gas chro matography and GC-mass spectroscopy have been used to demonstrate the presence of a diterpene compound similar to a sexual attractant pherom one observed in some L. longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva) populations.