Lutzomyia Youngi (Diptera: Psychodidae), A New Phlebotomine Sand Fly Previously Misidentified as L. Townsendi in Endemic Foci of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Venezuela and Costa Rica

Abstract

The male and female of Lutzomyia youngi, n. sp., from western Venezuela and Costa Rica are described and illustrated. Distinguishing characters used to separate the males of this species from others in the L. verrucarum species-group are also given. This species, previously misidentified as L. townsendi in some parts of western Venezuela, may be a vector of cutaneous leishmaniasis in both western Venezuela and Costa Rica.