A Fourth Chemotype of <I>Lutzomyia longipalpis</I> (Diptera: Psychodidae) from Jaíbas, Minas Gerais State, Brazil

Abstract

Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz and Neiva) is a species complex of Lutzomyia pseudolongipalpis (Arrivillaga and Feliciangeli) and at least three other as yet undefined siblings. Isozyme and mitochondrial studies of allopatric populations across Central and South America have suggested the presence of four "clades" that have been hypothesized to have arisen mainly because of geographical isolation mechanisms. Parallel studies of sexual behavior as well as cross-mating and genetic analysis, of both allopatric and sympatric populations, suggest at least four sibling species that do not seem to correspond to the defined four "clades." In an effort to understand this apparent discrepancy, sympatric populations of L. longipalpis from a single South American country, Brazil, are being studied. In Brazil, three putative species can be identified by their male-produced sex pheromones: (S)-9-methylgermacrene-B, 3-methyl-a-himachalene, and a cembrene. We report here that analysis by coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry shows that L. longipalpis from Jaibas, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, occurs as two sympatric sex pheromone chemotypes. One chemotype is the cembrene type previously recorded in a L. longipalpis population from Sobral, Ceará State, Brazil, and the other is a new cembrene isomer not previously observed in L. longipalpis. The finding of this new chemotype strongly suggests that the L. longipalpis species complex in Brazil consists of four members rather than the three previously recognized and confirms previous analysis of genetic variation that had suggested the presence of a complex in Brazil.

Lutzomyia longipalpis in Brazil: a complex or a single species? A mini-review

“…Equally interesting from the data compiled in this table is that it is only within Brazil where broadly separated Lu. longipalpis populations have been considered either a single species (Mukhopadhyay et al 1997, 1998a,b, Mutebi et al 1999, Azevedo et al 2000, Arrivillaga et al 2003, de Queiroz Balbino et al 2006 or a species complex (Ward et al 1983, 1988, Yin et al 1999, Souza et al 2002, Bauzer et al 2002a,b, Maingon et al 2003, Bottecchia et al 2004, Hamilton et al 2004, Watts et al 2005) depending on the markers used. Therefore the controversy concerning the existence of a complex is centred on data from Brazilian populations.…”

Genetic differentiation in natural populations of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva) (Diptera: Psychodidae) with different phenotypic spot patterns on tergites in males

“…Four types of pheromones are known to be produced by L. longipalpis males (Hamilton et al 1999(Hamilton et al , 2004, which are released by secretory glands located near the abdominal spots (Lane & Ward 1984, Spiegel et al 2002, Hamilton 2008. Hamilton et al (2005) reported no correlation between morphology of the abdominal spots and the type of pheromone produced.…”

Identification of sex pheromones of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva, 1912) populations from the state of São Paulo, Brazil

“…At present four different sex pheromone-producing populations (chemotypes) of L. longipalpis are recognised in Brazil based on the main terpene component of their sex pheromone; two are homosesquiterpenes -3-methyl-α-himachalene, (found in males from Jacobina, state of Bahia) (Hamilton et al 1996b(Hamilton et al , 1999a) and (S)-9-methylgermacrene-B (in males from Lapinha Cave, state of Minas Gerais) (Hamilton et al 1996a(Hamilton et al , 1999b. The third and fourth are monocyclic diterpenes partially characterized as cembrene isomers and have been found in males from Sobral, state of Ceará ) and males from Jaíbas, state of Minas Gerais (Hamilton et al 2004). There is no correlation between the numbers of spots on the abdomen and the pheromone extracted from them.…”