Morphological study of the larval spiracular system in eight Lutzomyia species (Diptera: Psychodidae).
The morphology of the spiracles of fourth instar larva in eight sandfly species were examined by light and scanning electron microscopy. Species studied were: Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva), L. ovallesi (Ortiz), L. youngi Feliciangeli & Murillo, L. evansi (Nuñez-Tovar), L. trinidadensis (Newstead), L. migonei (França), L. absonodonta Feliciangeli, and L. venezuelensis (Floch & Abonnenc). In larvae of all eight species both thoracic and abdominal spiracles are located at the top of a globular bulge. Their structure consists of a spiracular plate with a sclerotized central portion and a rose-like peripheral portion. The latter has circularly arranged papillae, separated from each other by elongated septa. Each papilla is longitudinally crossed by a fine cleft dividing it into two identical parts. The taxonomic and adaptative value of spiracular morphology is discussed.
Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, Università della Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy.
A M
AM
Fausto
M D
MD
Feliciangeli
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M
Maroli
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M
Mazzini
D000818:Animals; D007814:Larva / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011576:Psychodidae / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development*