A PROGRAM FOR COMPUTER-AIDED IDENTIFICATION OF PHLEBOTOMINE SANDFLIESOF THE AMERICA (CIPA) - PRESENTATION AND CHECKLIST OF AMERICAN SPECIES

The CIPA programme is a collaborative project including two entomologi sts from France and seven from South and Central America countries. It s objective is the development of an expert system for computer aided identification of phlebotomine sand flies from the Americas. It also i ncludes the formation of data bases for bibliographic, taxonomic and b iogeographic data. Participant consensus on taxonomic prerequisites, s tandardization in bibliographic data collections and selection of desc riptive variables for the final programme has been established through continuous communication among participants and annual meetings. The adopted check-list of American sand flies presented here includes 386 specific taxa, ordered into three genera and 28 sub-genera or species groups.