« Previous AbstractComparison of the sex-pheromone components of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera:Psychodidae) from areas of visceral and atypical cutaneous leishmaniasis in Honduras and Cost Rica    Next Abstract"A fourth chemotype of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae) from Jaibas, Minas Gerais State, Brazil" »

Ann Trop Med Parasitol

Title:		Distribution of putative male sex pheromones among Lutzomyia sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae)
Author(s):		Hamilton JG; Brazil RP; Campbell-Lendrum D; Davies CR; Kelly DW; Pessoa FA; de Queiroz RG;
Address:		"School of Life Sciences, University of Keele, UK. j.g.c.hamilton@keele.ac.uk"
Journal Title:		Ann Trop Med Parasitol
Year:		2002
Volume:		96
Issue:		1
Page Number:		83 - 92
DOI:		10.1179/000349802125000547
ISSN/ISBN:		0003-4983 (Print) 0003-4983 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Male Lutzomyia longipalpis produce terpene sex pheromones in glandular tissue underlying the cuticle. The pheromones are transmitted to the surface via cuticle-lined ducts (measuring 0.25 microm in diameter), each of which reaches the surface in the centre of a papule (measuring 3-3.5 microm in diameter). Similar papules, in a range of shapes but all characterized by the presence of a central pore and absence of macroserae, occur in some other species of sandfly. The aim of the present study was to determine the distribution of sex pheromones in sandflies of the genus Lutzomyia that do and do not have the papules. The results indicate that sex pheromones are not widely distributed amongst male Lutzomyia spp. Male members of the genus can be subdivided into three groups: those that produce terpenes and have cuticular papules; those that do not produce terpenes but still have the associated papules; and those that have neither terpenes nor papules. The papules seen in the species that do not synthesise sex pheromones are presumably vestigial, non-functional structures. Such species may have stopped producing pheromone as the result of changes in the way in which the females found and selected mates or changing feeding preferences. A similar event has occurred in the Lepidoptera, where vestigial pheromone-secreting structures remain in some species which no longer produce pheromone. Lutzomyia lenti collected in southern Brazil produced a novel diterpene whereas male L. lenti from north-eastern Brazil did not, supporting suggestions by others that L. lenti is, like L. longipalpis, a species complex"
Keywords:		"Animals Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/methods Male Microscopy, Electron Pheromones/*analysis Psychodidae/*chemistry/classification/ultrastructure Species Specificity;"
Notes:		"MedlineHamilton, J G C Brazil, R P Campbell-Lendrum, D Davies, C R Kelly, D W Pessoa, F A C de Queiroz, R G eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2002/05/07 Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 2002 Jan; 96(1):83-92. doi: 10.1179/000349802125000547"