Gas-chromatographic analysis of Lutzomyia longipalpis tergal pheromone gland extract.

Lutzomyia longipalpis is the vector of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in South America. Previous gas-chromatographic (GC) analyses of tergal gland extracts of Lu. longipalpis have demonstrated two distinct pheromone types. These have been classified as a farnesene/homofarnesene type compound and a diterpene type compound. GC analysis of tergal gland extracts of Lu. longipalpis from other areas of South America demonstrates that there may be other different pheromone producing forms of this sandfly. Gland extracts are more complex than has previously been indicated, and they have been shown to differ in the chemicals present and in the ratio of these compounds to each other.