Scanning Electron Microscopy of Sand Flies of the Chagasi Series, Psychodopygus (Diptera: Psychodidae) Genus, Focusing on the Genitalia

• Published in: Journal of medical entomology Vol. 57; no. 1; pp. 92 - 103
• Main Authors: Godoy, Rodrigo Espíndola, Rangel, Elizabeth Ferreira, Santos Mallet, Jacenir Reis dos, Santos, Thiago Vasconcelos dos, Rocha Barata, Iorlando da, Costa Pessoa, Felipe Arley, Cunha, Alda Eunice Farias Lobato da, Vilela, Maurício Luiz, Bianchi Galati, Eunice Aparecida
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: US Entomological Society of America 01-01-2020; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Antennae; Dehydration; Electron microscopy; Ethanol; Fine structure; Genitalia; Grooves; Insects; Microscopy; Morphology; MORPHOLOGY, SYSTEMATICS, EVOLUTION; Psychodopygus chagasi; Psychodopygus complexus; Psychodopygus squamiventris subspecies; Psychodopygus wellcomei; Reproductive organs; Scanning electron microscopy; Sensilla; Setae; sexual dimorphism; Species; Ultrastructure; Brazil; subspecies; sexual dimorphism; complexus; Psychodopygus wellcomei; Psychodopygus complexus; Psychodopygus chagasi; Psychodopygus squamiventris subspecies
• ISSN: 0022-2585; 1938-2928
• DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjz166

Males of cryptic or closely related species present great morphological variation in their genitalia, whereas females, such as those of the Chagasi Series of the Psychodopygus Mangabeira, 1941 genus, are more similar. Therefore, our aim was to study the fine structure of the male genitalia of five species of the Chagasi Series to better understand the variation in their morphology and its influence on the copulatory process. The sand fly species were captured in the following Brazilian states: Psychodopygus chagasi (Costa Lima, 1941) (Rondônia), Psychodopygus complexus (Mangabeira, 1941) (Tocantins), Psychodopygus squamiventris maripaensis (Floch & Abonnenc, 1946) (Amapá), Psychodopygus squamiventris squamiventris (Lutz & Neiva, 1912) (Amazonas), and Psychodopygus wellcomei Fraiha, Shaw & Lainson, 1971 (Pará and Ceará). Insects were stored in ethanol 70% (then dehydrated) and dry after they were sputtered with gold. The samples were observed under a scanning electron microscope. Microtrichiae, two types of trichoid sensilla, coeloconic and chaetic sensillae, were observed on the antenna of all species, with no difference between them. Only on the anepimeron of P. squamiventris squamiventris a modified ‘racket'-like scale was observed. As for the male genitalia, the setae and structures of each species were fully described, such as the small setae on the paramere apex of the P. squamiventris subspecies, and the grooves present in this region and on the paramere lobe of P. complexus and P. wellcomei, which are impossible to observe with optic microscopy. New information is thus provided on the male genitalia, which can contribute to future bionomic studies of these species.