Establecimiento de una colonia de lutzomyia walkeri (Newstead, 1914) (Diptera: phlebotominae)

Abstract

A colony of Lutzomyia walkeri was established in order to investigate its possible role in the transmission of Leishmania braziliensis panamensis in a focus of leishmaniasis in the rural hamlet. El Mercado, township of Mariquita of departament of Tolima, Colombia, S.A. This colony is presently in its 8th generation, which began with 301 females collected with human bait in 1982. The average eggs laid by a female was/29. With a maximum of 79. In a controlled experiment 1283 female were separated, which laid 37.118 eggs out of which 9030 adults were hatched, i.e.an efficiency of 24.3%. The development cycle from egg to adult lasted an average of 67 days at an average temperature of 21.5ºC for adults and 23°C for larvae. Lutzomyia walkeri was seen to be both anthropophilic and zoophilic.