Morphological description of immature stages of Trichophoromyia brachipyga (Mangabeira) (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae)

Abstract

Trichophoromyia brachipyga (Mangabeira) (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) is a widely distributed species that has been recently regarded as a putative vector of Leishmania (Viannia) lainsoni Silveira, Shaw, Braga & Ishikawa in the Brazilian Amazon region. Currently, no immature stages of the genus Trichophoromyia Barretto have been morphologically described. The present study provided, for the first time, using a light microscopy morpho-taxonomical approach, the description of the egg, fourth-instar larva, and pupa of Th. brachipyga, with comparison of their morphological traits with other phlebotomine species, particularly those of the subtribe Psychodopygina, which is closely related.