A laboratory study of Lutzomyia torvida and Lutzomyia longiflocosa (Diptera: Psychodidae) life-cycles, being possible Leishmania braziliensis vectors in Colombia's coffee-growing area

Abstract

In the present study a daily follow-up of the life-cycle of Lutzomyia torvida and Lutzomyia longiflococa under laboratory conditions was carried out in order to improve knowledge about the biology of these two highly anthropophilic species of the verrucarum group, townsendiseries. Each of them represents the most abundant species in two diflerent Leishmania braziliensis foci trom the Eastern Andean range of mountains in Central Colombia. Between February 1996 and March 1997, the sand fly L. torvida was collected in Reventones (Cundinamarca) and L. longiflocosa in Tello (Huila) using Shannon traps and protected human bait, mainly during the dry season. The mean number of eggs laid by wild females was 25.8 for L. torvida and 27.6 for L. longiflocosa. On average, the entire life cycle from egg to adult was 96.8 days for L. torvida and 93.8 days for L. longiflocosa. The highest immature lost was at the egg and fourth larval stages for both species. Although 54.8% of L. torvida and 72% of L. longiflocosa managed to become adults, it was dificult to obtain engorged females since the majority of them refused to feed on hamster.