The establishment, maintenance and productivity of a laboratory colony of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae).

Abstract

A closed colony of the phlebotomine sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis from Brazil was established in England where 24 consecutive generations have been reared. The establishment and methods of colonization are described. The yield of eggs improved when females were kept without free water at 95% rh until the 4th day after engorgement. No eggs were laid until a damp surface was provided. The mean number of eggs produced per female was 80, of which an average of 50 were laid. Larvae were reared at 25°C in damp pots lined with plaster and were fed on liver powder. Adult flies were provided with 30% sucrose solution; females were offered blood of hamsters or man. In descending order of importance, losses were from eggs retained as ovipositing females died, death of 1 st-instar larvae, eggs not hatching, death of 2nd- to 4th-instar larvae, females refusing blood, death of pupae, and death of engorged flies before oviposition. Eight hundred to 1000 flies were routinely bred from the eggs of 120 engorged females. The developmental time of each generation was 6–7 weeks. Colonized flies were robust and females readily took blood. Observations in Brazil and England suggest that Lu. longipalpis is a suitable sand fly for studies on the life cycle and transmission of several Leishmania species.