Ootaxonomic investigation of five Lutzomyia species (Diptera, Psychodidae)from Venezuela

The eggshell fine structure of five sandfly species from Venezuela belongin g to the genus Lutzomyia (L. migonei, L. ovallesi, L. absonodonta, L. gomez i and L. panamensis) was examined by scanning electron microscopy. The chor ionic sculpturing of L. migonei, L. ovallesi, L. absonodonta and L. gomezi was characterized by series of columns arranged in palisade to form sinuous ridges. In inter-ridge areas, the basal layer was covered with fibrous mat erial. The outer chorion of L. panamensis had a pattern known as "mountain- or volcano-like". The morphology of the posterior pole and aeropyle had a common structure in the five species, with some species-specific characters . The eggshell features of the five species are compared with those of othe r phlebotomine sandflies.