Abstract
The occurrence of spiculate armature in the pylorus of Neotropical Phlebotominae is reported. The armature occupies slightly more than the posterior 1/3 of the pylorus, and is similar in appearance to the pharyngeal armature of several Neotropical species. Spines are directed posteriad in both structures. More than 100 Panamanian sandflies, comprising over a dozen species, were dissected and all possessed this structure. We propose that the pyloric armature may function in the disruption of the undigested hematin blood-meal residue and its enclosing peritrophic membrane, thus facilitating passage through the hindgut. The occurrence of this structure is particularly interesting because certain Leishmania strains frequently localize in the pylorus of Panamanian sandflies. What influence, if any, pyloric armature exerts on this phenomenon is not known.
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