Correlated morphologic and genetic diversity among Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera : Psychodidae) collections in Venezuela

Diversity among Lutzomyia longipalpis populations in Venezuela was characte rized using 2 methods: larval mouthpart morphology-morphometry and isoenzym e electrophoresis. Analysis of the results suggested the presence of 2 morp ho-genotypes. The mentum, maxillary comb, mandibular ventral teeth, and ade nylate kinase and hexokinase enzyme-encoding loci suggested that a populati on from the northwestern Coriano System (Curarigua) is a distinct lineage w ithin the L. longipalpis complex. Three widely separated populations from t he Llanos (savanna), Andes, and northcentral Coastal Cordillera showed no s ignificant substructure. These studies provide morphologic markers that are congruent with genetic data and suggest that the morphologic markers may b e used to characterize and differentiate populations within this species co mplex.