title: Anomalies in the sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Brazil.
abstract: Lutzomyia longipalpis is the main species involved in the epidemiological cycle of visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil. This species shows a wide geographic distribution and belongs to a group that has 2 setae in the paramere with the curved tips towards the apex of this structure among other characteristics. Morphological characters in the genitalia of phlebotomines are essential for correct identification of species. The aim of this study was to report the finding of unilateral and bilateral anomalies in the paramere of L. longipalpis males collected in Várzea da Palma municipality, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Twelve collections were made during the period April 2009 to March 2010, using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention light traps, HP model. Of the 8,832 male L. longipalpis collected, we found 6 types of unilateral anomalies and 2 types of bilateral anomalies in 0.5% of the insects collected. The anomalies were described according to number, position, and size of the setae of paramere. This information will be useful in the validation of new species.
authors.affiliation: Grupo de Estudos em Leishmanioses, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cristiani de Castilho
authors.initials: Cde C
authors.lastname: Sanguinette
authors.forename: Juliana Xavier
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Faustino
authors.forename: Paula Cavalcante Lamy
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Serra e Meira
authors.forename: Helbert Antônio
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Botelho
authors.forename: Gustavo Mayr de Lima
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Célia Maria Ferreira
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Gontijo
authors.forename: José Dilermando Andrade
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Filho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D008297:Male; D011576:Psychodidae / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D058618:Sensilla / Q000002:abnormalities*