Morphological aspects of immature stages of Migonemyia migonei (Diptera: Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) an important vector of Leishmaniosis in South America by scanning electron microscopy

Abstract

We describe the immature stages of Migonemyia migonei, which is the vector of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis, the aetiological agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis in South America, and a putative vector of Leishmania infantum chagasi. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to refine the description of the structures of eggs, all instar larvae and pupa. The eggs have polygonal cells on the egg exochorion, and differences between larval and pupal chaetotaxy are highlighted. Different sensillary subtypes were observed in the larval stages, among the types trichoidea, basiconica, coelonica and campanoformia. These results contribute to the taxonomy of Mg. migonei and may contribute to future studies on the phylogeny of this important species vector.