title: The Lutzomyia longipalpis complex: a brief natural history of aggregation-sex pheromone communication.
abstract: In this paper we review the natural history of pheromone communication and the current diversity of aggregation-sex pheromones in the sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis. This species complex is the main vector of Leishmania infantum, the agent of visceral leishmaniasis in the Americas. The identification of variation in pheromone chemotypes combined with molecular and sound analyses have all contributed to our understanding of the extent of divergence among cryptic members of this complex. The importance of chemical signals as pre-mating barriers and drivers of speciation is discussed. Moreover, the importance of aggregation-sex pheromones as sexually selected signals is highlighted with evidence from the literature suggesting their potential role in species and mate recognition as well as mate assessment. The distinct evolutionary forces possibly involved are briefly reviewed and discussed in the context of this intriguing insect.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Outeiro de São João Batista s/n, Valonguinho, Centro, Niterói, 24.020-150, RJ, Brazil. carolina.spiegel@gmail.com.|Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Insetos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, 21040-360, RJ, Brazil. carolina.spiegel@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Carolina N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Spiegel
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcântara Gomes, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, CEP: 20.551-030, RJ, Brazil.|Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Insetos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, 21040-360, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Denise B Dos Santos
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Insetos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, 21040-360, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alejandra S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Araki
authors.affiliation: Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, School of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK.
authors.forename: James G C
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, 21040-900, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Reginaldo P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Brazil
authors.affiliation: School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Théresa M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000502:physiology; D011576:Psychodidae / Q000502:physiology*; D012724:Sex Attractants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal
chemical_list: D012724:Sex Attractants
keywords: Aggregation pheromone; Evolution; Lutzomyia longipalpis; Sand flies; Sex pheromone; Species complex