Pheromones in mate choice and sexual isolation between siblings of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera:Psychodidae).

Pheromone-disc contact experiments are described in which different populations of the sandfly Lutzomyia longipalpis from Brazil were exposed to each others male pheromone extracts. The Jacobina population reacted only to the conspecific pheromone. The Sobral 2S population, however, would respond to the pheromone of Jacobina males, but if given a choice showed a preference for conspecific extract. Mate choice experiments are also described using sandflies of two pheromone types from Sobral. One population preferentially selected conspecific sexual partners, but the other showed poor mating propensity.