The phlebotomine sandflies (Diptera, Psychodidae) of caves in belize, Central America

Abstract

Between 1963 and 1969, approximately 15 000 Phlebotomine sandflies were collected in five limestone caves in Belize, Central America. Thirteen species of sandflies were identified, two of the genus Brumptomyia França & Parrot and 11 of the genus Lutzomyia França. L. beltrani (Vargas & Díaz Nájera) was the predominant species in all the caves; it is wholly adapted for life in caves and data on blood-meals and ovarian development allow a detailed discussion of its probable life-history (four generations per year) in relation to its supposed hosts, bats. Some specimens of L. deleoni (Fairchild & Hertig) were collected in all caves and it was the second most abundant species in all but one cave; this species, whose larval stages develop in the caves, is evolving from life in caves and is becoming adapted to life in forest. L. trinidadensis (Newst.) was abundant in one cave but rare in the others; this species probably enters caves in search of hosts for blood-meals. The eight other species of Lutzomyia and the two species of Brumptomyia were collected in small numbers and at irregular intervals; these species use caves only as temporary shelters.