Notes on the Phlebotomus of Panama (Diptera, Psychodidae) II. Descriptions of Three New Species1

Abstract

The three species here considered form an apparently closely related group which is set off from the large group of Neotropical species bearing a basal tuft on the coxite by their inflated lateral lobes and the extreme proximal position of the basal spine of the style. Within the group, vesiciferus and vespertilionis are most similar in respect to the structure of the male genitalia, both having but three spines on the style, while deleoni has four. vesiciferus and deleoni have identically formed genital filaments, while those of vespertilionis are of a different type. In the females which we have associated with these males, the cibaria are of similar type in all, bearing four strong horizontal teeth and what appear to be two strong vertical teeth as well as a variable number of smaller teeth. The pharynges of all are relatively unarmed, having weak finger-like ridges at their proximal ends only. These ridges bear minute spines, visible only at high magnification. The spermathecae of deleoni and vesiciferus are of a distinct and unusual type, being apparently somewhat like those figured by Addis (1945, J. Parasit., 31, 2, 119-127) for P. anthophorus . The spermathecae of vespertilionis are less unusual in structure. Addis erected a new subgenus for his P. anthophorus , and indeed the peculiar genitalia, spermathecae and cibarium of his species seem to warrant such an action. However, various of the three species here considered share with anthophorus the unusual spermathecal structure and the 3-spined style of the genitalia, while the structure of the paramere is paralleled in a number of not apparently otherwise related species.