title: The identification of female sandflies of the subgenus Larroussius by the morphology of the spermathecal ducts.
abstract: The complete spermathecae of 13 species of Larroussius were dissected and examined. The base of the duct of 4 species (aculeatus, guggisbergi, tobbi, wui) is bell-shaped: they are easily distinguished by differences in shape. Five other species (perniciosus, pedifer, longicuspis, perfiliewi, galilaeus) have lateral structures at the base of the duct: slight differences between perniciosus, pedifer and longicuspis distinguish these species: the structures of perfiliewi and galilaeus are the same. Species of a third group (neglectus, syriacus) have a common duct with no lateral structures: they are distinguishable by minor differences. Two species (ariasi, orientalis) from a fourth group with expanded distal parts of the duct; the size and shape of the expanded parts easily separates the species. The study shows a great variation in the morphology of the base of the spermathecal ducts of Larroussius and confirms the value of this feature in identifying otherwise indistinguishable females of the subgenus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Imperial College, Silwood Park, Ascot.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Killick-Kendrick
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Killick-Kendrick
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Sang
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Sirdar
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ke
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Ashford
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schorscher
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D011576:Psychodidae / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification*; D013045:Species Specificity