Egg surface sculpturing of three species of Phlebotomus sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) from Jordan

The eggs of Phlebotomus (Larroussius) syriacus Adler and Theodor, P. (L.) mascittii Adler and Theodor, and P. (Paraphlebotomus) kazeruni Theodor and Mesghali showed differences in size and egg slit measurements, as well as characteristic egg shell sculpturing patterns upon examination under scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The eggs of P. syriacus had a general pattern of reticular ridges, while those of P. mascittii showed two different patterns corresponding to dorsal (parallel ridges) and lateral (ellipses) sides. The egg shell of P. kazeruni was in the form of connected double parallel ridges. These sculpturing patterns were compared with those of other Phlebotomus species for their potential use in the ootaxonomy of Old World sandflies.