Physical Factors Influencing the Oviposition of Lutzomyia migonei (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Laboratory Conditions

Physical Factors Influencing the Oviposition of Lutzomyia migonei (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Laboratory Conditions

Vol. 92 (6): 733-737

Elsa Nieves / ⁺ , Aloisio Ribeiro, Reginaldo Brazil*

Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Caixa Postal 486, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil *Laboratorio de Leishmanioses, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou-FIOCRUZ, Caixa Postal 1715, 30190-002 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil

To determine the influence of physical factors on oviposition of Lutzomyia migonei (Diptera: Psychodidae) under laboratory conditions, two sets of experiments were performed. The first test was to determine the influence of the size of pots on oviposition. Gravid flies were placed individually or in groups in different oviposition pots. The number of eggs laid, oviposition time and survival of gravid females were observed. In the second experiment, the influence of irregular surfaces on oviposition was studied. The results suggested that physical space was not an important factor in the oviposition behavior of L. migonei and that the flies showed a preference to oviposit on irregular horizontal surfaces in response to thigmotropic behavior.

Key words: Lutzomyia migonei - sandfly - oviposition - physical space - irregular surface - laboratory conditions

Lutzomyia migonei (França 1920) is widely distributed in South America (Young & Duncan 1994). This is an important man-biting sandfly and is considered to be the vector of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Venezuela and Brazil (Pessoa & Pestana 1940, Pifano & Ortiz 1952, Feliciangeli 1991, Queiroz et al. 1994).

One of the main problems that occur during sandfly colonization is the high mortality of gravid females before or during oviposition. This mortality hampers studies of sandfly biology, the productivity of the colony and experimental studies of transmission on Leishmania (Killick-Kendrick et al. 1977, Endris et al. 1982, Chaniotis 1986). Oviposition in sandflies is controlled through a combination of complex interactions between environmental, physica Lutzomyia migon l and chemical factors. Studies on the physical factors showed that temperature and relative humidity were important factors in the regulation of oviposition behavior (Foster et al. 1970, Chaniotis 1986). Furthermore, it was observed that the oviposition substrate stimulates a thigmotropic response in gravid flies (El Naiem & Ward 1992a). El Naiem and Ward (1990, 1991) discovered the existence of an oviposition pheromone associated with the eggs of L. longipalpis . This pheromone has been isolated from female accessory glands and is secreted on to the eggs during oviposition (Dougherty et al. 1992). El Naiem and Ward (1992b) also demonstrated oviposition preferences in L. longipalpis for surfaces containing frass, larval rearing medium and rabbit faeces. In our study, we examined the influence of physical factors on oviposition by L . migonei. The study was designed to determine if the female sandfly lays more eggs on irregular surfaces than on flat surfaces, and to determine the effect that physical space has on oviposition in the gravid female.

Sandflies - L. migonei used in the experiments belonged to a colony initiated in 1993 with flies collected in Shannon light traps in a coffee plantation located at 1360 m above sea level at Ejído, Mérida, Venezuela. The methods for establishing and maintaining the colony in the laboratory were those described by Killick-Kendrick et al. (1977). Larvae and adults were reared in an incubator (Eletrolab) at a temperature of 25°C with 95% RH. Larval food was a powder mixture 1:1 of coffee-leaves and the larval diet was as described by Young et al. (1981).

Before use in experiments, females were fed on hamsters anesthetized with a 50 mg/ml solution of sodium pentabarbitone. They were subsequently isolated with equal numbers of males in 15x15x15 cm nylon cages and offered a 50% sucrose solution, in an atmosphere of 25°C, 95% RH, for three days to allow complete oogenesis and defaecation.

Physical space - The effects of physical space on oviposition were investigated using five types of oviposition pots of different sizes and capacities (Table I). These oviposition pots were constructed in a base of polymethyl pentane, with a layer of plaster of Paris on the bottom and walls of the pots. The pots were tested using 1-3 day-old females individually and in groups.

In the group experiment, twenty females were introduced into each of five types of pots. This experiment was replicated six times on different days. Oviposition in each pot was monitored until the females died. The number of females that survived for one day post oviposition were recorded. At the end of the experiment, females were dissected to determine the number of females with complete oviposition, and the number of laid eggs per pot were counted.

In the individual experiments, single females were placed in one of five types of oviposition pots. This was replicated twenty times on different days. Atmosphere conditions were as already described. The oviposition and survival of the female in each type of pot were recorded, and the number of laid and retained eggs were counted. The results were analyzed statistically by generalized linear model and analysis of variance.

Irregular surfaces - To determine if the sandfly females lay more eggs on irregular or flat surfaces, three oviposition pots were constructed using layers of plaster of Paris, as follows: (a) an irregular bottom surface and a flat wall surface, (b) a flat bottom surface and an irregular wall surface, and (c) irregular bottom and wall surfaces (Fig.). As controls, pots with flat bottom and wall surfaces were used. Females of 1 day-old were fed and sixty gravid females were placed singly in each type of pot. The oviposition and survival of the females in the different types of oviposition pots were recorded. The total number of eggs laid and retained per female in each type of pot was counted. For eggs laid, surface of preference was then determined by counting. The results were analyzed statistically using analysis of variance.

Oviposition pots: a flat bottom surface and irregular wall (1), irregular bottom and wall surfaces (2) and irregular bottom surface and a flat wall surface (3).

 

Oviposition response of L. migonei females placed in groups of twenty in oviposition pots of different sizes is shown in Table II . There was considerable variability in the numbers of eggs per pot, as is shown by the standard error. Statistical analysis revealed significant variation between the replicate sets of flies tested in each experiment. However, analysis also showed that the variation in the number of eggs laid in oviposition pots of different sizes can be accounted for by differences between replicates and not by pot parameters ( Table III ).

The oviposition response of L. migonei females placed individually in oviposition pots of different sizes is shown in Table IV . No significant difference was detected between the parameters and physical space of the oviposition pots.

Results of the oviposition response of L. migonei females placed individually in oviposition pots with irregular surfaces are summarized in Table V . The response of female L. migonei to pots with irregular and/or flat surfaces was not statistically different in relation to number of eggs laid, complete oviposition and days of survival post oviposition. An irregular surface had an inhibitory effect on the oviposition and significantly delayed oviposition time in pots with irregular surface versus the controls and also a significant difference was detected for mean longevity of the females among pots with irregular and flat surfaces. While the total number of eggs in each type of pot was relatively constant, we observed that when presented with a choice between irregular and smooth surfaces in the same pot, more eggs were laid on the horizontal irregular surface than on the flat surfaces (P<0.05) ( Table VI ).

The results obtained with L. migonei using groups of females or individually isolated females in oviposition pots of different sizes, indicated that physical space is not an important factor controlling oviposition behavior in laboratory conditions. In the sandfly, the act of oviposition is apparently an exhausting process. Under laboratory conditions only a few females survive long enough to complete oviposition and subsequently take a second blood meal (Chaniotis 1967). In nature, where more than one gonotrophic cycle is considered normal, it is possible that eggs are laid one by one over a comparatively wide area. However, several reasons can be offered to explain our observation that pot size has no effect: (1) under natural conditions, sandflies may spend most of their time in optimum microhabitats and have a short capacity for flight (Forattini 1973); (2) in the laboratory, gravid females are often routinely individually confined for oviposition in small vials. These vials are able to supply the vital requirements for satisfactory oviposition (Chaniotis 1967); (3) there is evidence that sandflies have short longevity (Endris et al. 1984). Thus, there is evidence to support our finding that physical space is not important in the oviposition behavior of L. migonei .

In sandflies, gravid females use a complex set of oviposition stimuli, that are thought to be controlled by complex interactions between environmental and biochemical factors. Difficulties in mimicking natural environmental conditions in the laboratory may result in high mortality rates during oviposition (Killick-Kendrick et al. 1977, Chaniotis 1986, El Naiem & Ward 1992b). The physical nature of the oviposition substrate is known to be an important oviposition stimulus for sandflies (Killick-Kendrick 1987, Dougherty et al. 1992). El Naiem and Ward (1992a) demonstrated thigmotropic behaviour in L. longipalpis , showing that gravid females prefer to oviposit in vertical crevices rather than open, flat surfaces. Similarly, our observations showed that L. migonei has a preference for laying eggs on irregular horizontal surfaces of oviposition pots rather than on flat surfaces. In addition to preference, oviposition was generally delayed on irregular pots thus stimulating longevity in females. These results support the previous suggestions that natural oviposition of sandflies occurs in cracks and crevices (Young et al. 1926, Lewis & Kirk 1954). Similarly, the results obtained agree with the observations of El Naiem and Ward (1992a) who suggested that under natural conditions, thigmotropic behavior of ovipositing sandflies may have a selective advantage in directing the females to lay eggs in crevices or cracks. This would subsequently provide protection and higher humidity to the emerging larvae, and crevices in natural breeding sites may contain more potential sandfly larval food than flat surfaces.

To Mr Reginaldo Wemerson for technical assistance, to Dr Jessica C Kissinger for proof-reading the manuscript and to Dr Paul Williams for valuable suggestions. To the University of Los Andes Mérida-Venezuela.

• Chaniotis BN 1967. The biology of California

  Phlebotomus

  (Diptera: Psychodidae) under laboratory conditions.

  J Med Entomol

  4

  : 221-223.

• Chaniotis BN 1986. Successful colonization of the sandfly

  Lutzomyia trapidoi

  (Diptera: Psychodidae), with enhancement of gonotrophic activity.

  J Med Entomol

  23

  : 163-166.

• Dougherty MJ, Ward RD, Hamilton JGC 1992. Evidence for the accessory glands as the site of production of the oviposition attractant and/or stimulant of

  Lutzomyia longipalpis

  (Diptera: Psychodidae).

  J Chem Ecol

  18

  : 1165-1175.

• El Naiem DA, Ward RD 1990. An oviposition pheromone on the eggs of sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae).

  Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg

  84

  : 456-457.

• El Naiem DA, Ward RD 1991. Response of the sandfly

  Lutzomyia longipalpis

  to an oviposition pheromone associated with conspecific eggs.

  Med Vet Entomol

  5

  : 87-91.

• El Naiem DA, Ward RD 1992a. The thigmotropic oviposition response of the sandfly

  Lutzomyia longipalpis

  (Diptera: Psychodidae) to crevices.

  Ann Trop Med Parasitol

  86

  : 425-430.

• El Naiem DA, Ward RD 1992b. Oviposition attractants and stimulants for the sandfly

  Lutzomyia longipalpis

  (Diptera: Psychodidae).

  J Med Entomol

  29

  : 5-12.

• Endris RG, Perkins PV, Young DG, Johnson RN 1982. Techniques for laboratory rearing of sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae).

  Mosq News 42

  : 400-407.

• Endris RG, Young DG, Butler JF 1984. The laboratory biology of the sand-fly

  Lutzomyia

  anthophora

  (Diptera: Psychodidae).

  J Med Entomol 21

  : 656-664.

• Feliciangeli MD 1991. Vectors of leismaniasis in Venezuela .

  Parassitologia 33

  (Suppl. 1): 229-236.

• Forattini OS 1973.

  Entomologia Médica

  . 4

  ^a

  ed., Edgard Blucher Ltda., São Paulo, 658 pp.

• Foster WA, Tesfa-Yohannes TM, Teckle T 1970. Studies on leismaniasis in Ethiopia. II Laboratory culture and biology of

  Phlebotomus longipes

  (Diptera: Psychodidae).

  Ann Trop Med Parasitol 64

  : 403-409.

• Killick-Kendrick R 1987. Breeding places of

  Phlebotomus ariasi

  in the Cevennes focus of leishmaniasis in the South of France.

  Parassitologia 29

  : 181-191.

• Killick-Kendrick R, Leaney AJ, Ready PD 1977. The establishment, maintenance and productivity of a laboratory colony of

  Lutzomyia longipalpis

  (Diptera: Psychodidae).

  J Med Entomol 13

  : 429-440.

• Lewis DJ, Kirk R 1954. Notes on the Phlebotominae of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan.

  Ann Trop Med Parasitol 48

  : 33-45.

• Pessoa SB, Pestana BR 1940. Infecção natural do

  Phelebotomus migonei

  por forma em leptomona, provavelmente da

  Leishmania braziliensis

  .

  Acta Med 5

  : 106-111.

• Pifano CF, Ortiz I 1952. Representantes venezolanos del género

  Phlebotomus rondani

  , 1940. (Diptera: Psychodidae).

  Rev Venezolana San Asis Soc 17

  : 155-161.

• Queiroz RG de, Vasconcelos I de A B, Vasconcelos, AW, Sousa RN de, Fé Filho N de, David JR 1994. Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Ceará State in Northeastern, Brazil: incrimination of

  Lutzomyia whitmani

  (Diptera: Psychodidae) as a vector of

  Leishmania

  braziliensis

  in Baturite Municipality.

  Am J Trop Hyg 50

  : 693-698.

• Young DG, Duncan MA 1994. Guide to the identification and geographic distribution of

  Lutzomyia

  sandflies in Mexico, the West Indies, Central and South America (Diptera: Psychodidae).

  Mem Amer Ent Inst 54

  : 881.

• Young DG, Perkins PV, Endris RG 1981. A larval diet for rearing phlebotomine sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae).

  J Med Entomol 18

  : 446.

• Young TCM, Richmond AE, Brendish GR 1926. Sandflies and sandfly fever in the Peshwar district.

  Indian J Med Res 13

  : 961.

• Work supported by CAPES, CNPq and FIOCRUZ and forming part of the Master's dissertation of the first author.

⁺ Corresponding author. Fax: [phone]

Received 18 December 1996

Accepted 23 July 1997

References

• Chaniotis BN 1967. The biology of California Phlebotomus (Diptera: Psychodidae) under laboratory conditions. J Med Entomol 4 : 221-223. Chaniotis BN 1986. Successful colonization of the sandfly Lutzomyia trapidoi (Diptera: Psychodidae), with enhancement of gonotrophic activity. J Med Entomol 23 : 163-166.
• Dougherty MJ, Ward RD, Hamilton JGC 1992. Evidence for the accessory glands as the site of production of the oviposition attractant and/or stimulant of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae). J Chem Ecol 18 : 1165-1175. El Naiem DA, Ward RD 1990. An oviposition pheromone on the eggs of sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae). Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 84 : 456-457. El Naiem DA, Ward RD 1991. Response of the sandfly Lutzomyia longipalpis to an oviposition pheromone associated with conspecific eggs. Med Vet Entomol 5 : 87-91.
• El Naiem DA, Ward RD 1992a. The thigmotropic oviposition response of the sandfly Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae) to crevices. Ann Trop Med Parasitol 86 : 425-430.
• El Naiem DA, Ward RD 1992b. Oviposition attractants and stimulants for the sandfly Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae). J Med Entomol 29 : 5-12.
• Endris RG, Perkins PV, Young DG, Johnson RN 1982. Techniques for laboratory rearing of sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae). Mosq News 42 : 400-407. Endris RG, Young DG, Butler JF 1984. The laboratory biology of the sand-fly Lutzomyia anthophora (Diptera: Psychodidae). J Med Entomol 21 : 656-664. Feliciangeli MD 1991. Vectors of leismaniasis in Venezuela . Parassitologia 33 (Suppl. 1): 229-236.
• Forattini OS 1973. Entomologia Médica . 4 ^a ed., Edgard Blucher Ltda., Săo Paulo, 658 pp.
• Foster WA, Tesfa-Yohannes TM, Teckle T 1970. Studies on leismaniasis in Ethiopia. II Laboratory culture and biology of Phlebotomus longipes (Diptera: Psychodidae). Ann Trop Med Parasitol 64 : 403-409.
• Killick-Kendrick R 1987. Breeding places of Phlebotomus ariasi in the Cevennes focus of leishmaniasis in the South of France. Parassitologia 29 : 181-191.
• Killick-Kendrick R, Leaney AJ, Ready PD 1977. The establishment, maintenance and productivity of a laboratory colony of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae). J Med Entomol 13 : 429-440.
• Lewis DJ, Kirk R 1954. Notes on the Phlebotominae of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. Ann Trop Med Parasitol 48 : 33-45.
• Pessoa SB, Pestana BR 1940. Infecçăo natural do Phelebotomus migonei por forma em leptomona, provavelmente da Leishmania braziliensis . Acta Med 5 : 106-111. Pifano CF, Ortiz I 1952. Representantes venezolanos del género Phlebotomus rondani , 1940. (Diptera: Psychodidae). Rev Venezolana San Asis Soc 17 : 155-161. Queiroz RG de, Vasconcelos I de A B, Vasconcelos, AW, Sousa RN de, Fé Filho N de, David JR 1994. Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Ceará State in Northeastern, Brazil: incrimination of Lutzomyia whitmani (Diptera: Psychodidae) as a vector of Leishmania braziliensis in Baturite Municipality. Am J Trop Hyg 50 : 693-698.
• Young DG, Duncan MA 1994. Guide to the identification and geographic distribution of Lutzomyia sandflies in Mexico, the West Indies, Central and South America (Diptera: Psychodidae). Mem Amer Ent Inst 54 : 881.
• Young DG, Perkins PV, Endris RG 1981. A larval diet for rearing phlebotomine sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae). J Med Entomol 18 : 446.
• Young TCM, Richmond AE, Brendish GR 1926. Sandflies and sandfly fever in the Peshwar district. Indian J Med Res 13 : 961.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  08 Oct 1998
• Date of issue
  Nov 1997

History

• Accepted
  23 July 1997
• Received
  18 Dec 1996