Activity of Lutzomyia pseudolongipalpis and L longipalpis s.l. (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Venezuela

The nocturnal activity of the phlebotamine sandfly lutzomyia pseudolongipalpis and two populations of L. longipalpis s.l. from different America visceral leishmaniasis foci in Venezuela was studied using collection bottle rolator traps. The activity of L. pseudolongipalpis from Lara State was continuos throughout the night, while that of Llongipalpis s.l. from El Layero, Guarico State and from Sania Ana del Valle, Margarita Island was greatest before 23.00h. The activity of sandflies of both populations and sexes steadily decreased thereafter. these different patterns seem to correlate with genetic data that indicate the presence in Venezuela of at least two sibling species in the L.longipalpis complex. The advantages of the bottle rotator trap for this type of study are discussed.