Investigations on mediterranean Kala Azar. III.—The sandflies of the mediterranean basin. Distribution and bionomics of sandflies in catania and district

Abstract

The diagnosis of preserved material is based on the characters of the pharynx, buccal cavity and spermathecæ in the female, the pharynx, buccal cavity and external genitalia in the male. As has been shown (1930) these characters are not only essential for specific diagnosis, but they also form the basis of a natural classification. In fresh material the granules of the accessory glands of the female genitalia are sometimes an aid to diagnosis. Th two closely related species P. major and P. perniciosus can readily be distinguished by these granules. In the former they are very small and cocoid, in the latter they are larger and more elliptical in form. The males of the erect-haired group can be determined without difficulty. The females of closely related species of the Major group are occasionally difficult to determine, and minor characters have to be employed. External characters are of little value for the diagnosis of living sandflies. In the case of the males, P. papatasii can b recognised by its relatively large external genitalia, and P. sergenti by its very short external genitalia. In the case of the females a few species, e. g. , P. perniciosus and P. major , can be distinguished by their general appearance. Closely related species often differ widely in bionomics and it is essential to distinguish between them because in some cases they may differ in their capacity to transmit disease. The sandflies of the Old World fall into two main groups, those which contain a well-marked armature in the buccal cavity and those which do not. These correspond roughly to the recumbent-haired and erect-haired groups of New-stead.