A Taxonomic Reassessment of the <I>Phlebotomus argentipes</I> Species Complex (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae)

Abstract

The taxonomic status of the sand fly Phlebotomus (Euphlebotomus) argentipes Annandale & Brunette 1908, which transmits Leishmania (Leishmania) donovani (Laveran & Mesnil 1903) in southern Asia, is reassessed, because variation in morphology, behavior, and distribution suggests it to be a complex of sibling species. The putative complex is composed of the nominotypical member Phlebotomus argentipes sensu stricto, Phlebotomus annandalei Sinton 1923 status revived and Phlebotomus glaucus Mitra & Roy 1953 new status. An allolectotype is designated for the female of P. argentipes as well as neotypes for the males of P. annandalei and P. glaucus. Morphological descriptions, illustrations, and keys are presented to allow identification of adult males and females. Based on female morphological characters, P. argentipes s.s., P. annandalei and P. glaucus can be distinguished from each other using principal component analysis. P. glaucus is widespread in India, occurring sympatrically with P. argentipes s.s. in L. donovani-endemic foci, whereas P. annandeli is peripatric to the type species in Chennai, southern India. "In copula" is a process of postcopulatory sexual selection occurring as correlated coevolution of male and female reproductive traits, which drives species isolation. This pattern has been implicated in reproductive isolation among the members of the P. argentipes complex. Further research on adult behavior and larval biology of the P. argentipes complex is needed to understand the epidemiology and control of visceral leishmaniasis.

A morphologically distinct Phlebotomus argentipes population from active cutaneous leishmaniasis foci in central Sri Lanka

“…This morphospecies was re-described as P. annandalei by Ilango (2010) and characterised as a "short ascoid form" based on the ratio between the length of the sensilla chaeticum, e.g., the ascoid (Lewis & Killick-Kendrick 1973, Ilango et al 1994, 2000, Lane & Rahman 1980 on antennal flagellomere A2 and the length of flagellomere A2 < 0.5 (n = 41). For P. argentipes morphospecies A, a "long ascoid form" that was re-assessed by the same author (Ilango 2010) and determined to be P. glaucus, the ratio described above is > 0.5 and this morphospecies was caught in the Pelawatta area (n = 4) in the district of Moneragala of mainland southeastern Sri Lanka. However, the sandfly collection from Delft Island was not from habitats in which CL cases had been reported and the sandfly numbers from these studies were small (Surendran et al 2005, Ilango 2010.…”

“…For P. argentipes morphospecies A, a "long ascoid form" that was re-assessed by the same author (Ilango 2010) and determined to be P. glaucus, the ratio described above is > 0.5 and this morphospecies was caught in the Pelawatta area (n = 4) in the district of Moneragala of mainland southeastern Sri Lanka. However, the sandfly collection from Delft Island was not from habitats in which CL cases had been reported and the sandfly numbers from these studies were small (Surendran et al 2005, Ilango 2010. Recently, evidence of the presence of the three P. argentipes s.l.…”

“…A taxonomic reassessment by Ilango (2010) indicated at least three sibling species within the P. argentipes s.l. species complex in India: P. argentipes Annandale and Brunetti s.s., Phlebotomus annandalei Sinton and Phlebotomus glaucus Mitra & Roy.…”

“…species complex in India: P. argentipes Annandale and Brunetti s.s., Phlebotomus annandalei Sinton and Phlebotomus glaucus Mitra & Roy. P. argentipes s.s., the known vector for VL in India, was found in sympatry with P. glaucus, although the latter has not been reported to act as a vector of VL and P. annandalei was mainly found in areas that are non-endemic for VL in India, including the Tamil Nadu area in southern India (Ilango et al 1994, Ilango 2010.…”

Optimizing Insecticide Allocation Strategies Based on Houses and Livestock Shelters for Visceral Leishmaniasis Control in Bihar, India

“…Phlebotomus argentipes is the primary vector of L. donovani in the Indian state of Bihar. 2 India, an agricultural country, has a sizable cattle population that is frequently visited by sandflies for mating and feeding purposes.…”