Description of the genital atrium of three Lutzomyia species in the subgenus Psathyromyia (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebominae) from the Central Brazilian Amazon / Descripción del atrio genital de tres especies de Lutzomyia del subgénero Psathyromyia (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebominae) de la Amazonía Central Brasileña

ABSTRACT

Phlebotomine sand flies are responsible for the transmission of the etiological agents of several diseases, including protozoan parasites that cause leishmaniases. In the Lutzomyia França genus, the females of some species are morphologically similar, and the morphological characters normally used to identify them are unreliable. The aim of this study was to distinguish between females of cryptic Lutzomyia França species from the subgenus Psathyromyia Barretto by analyzing the armature in the genital atrium (AGA). The species studied were Lutzomyia dendrophyla Mangabeira, L. scaffi Damasceno & Arouck and L. shannoni sensulato Dyar. Lab-reared females were dissected to isolate the genital atrium and spermathecae. The AGA of each species was then photographed, and the arrangement of spines described. We conclude that the AGA can be a useful tool for distinguishing between female cryptic species of the subgenus Psathyromyia.