Identification of Lutzomyia spp. (Diptera : Psychodidae) verrucarum group through electron microscopy of eggs

The value of Colombian phlebotomine eggs for species determination was stud ied with a scanning electron microscope. The species diversity and medical importance of the verrucarum group were the bases to select Lutzomyia young i, Lutzomyia evansi, Lutzomyia columbiana and Lutzomyia longiflocosa. The e gg surface was poligonal. Lutzomyia youngi. and Lutzomyia columbiana had pe ntagonal or hexagonal patterns; Lutzomyia evansi elongated polygons and Lut zomyia longiflocosa irregular polygonal sculpturing, frequently rectangular . Egg scanning electron microscopy is reliable to identify species of the v errucarum group.