SEMIOCHEMICAL MEDIATION OF OVIPOSITION BY THE PHLEBOTOMINE SANDFLY LUTZOMYIA-LONGIPALPIS

Extracts of rabbit food, hav and rabbit faeces elicited a positive ovi position response from gravid female Lutzomyia longipalpis sandflies ( Diptera: Phlebotominae). Combined extract of rabbit food and ovipositi on pheromone had a synergistic effect on sandfly egg-laying, greatly i ncreasing the number of eggs laid and resulting in a highly targeted r esponse. Individually tubed flies, exposed to the combined extract, we re shown to be 3.5 times more likely to survive oviposition and laid 2 .5 times more eggs than control flies. A laboratory oviposition trap b aited with the combined extract was tested in a cage and caught 31 (62 %) of 50 gravid L. longipalpis over a 72 h period.