Abstract of Dissertation Presented to the Graduate School 

 of the University of Florida in Partial Fulfillment of the 

 Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy 



BIOLOGY AND COLONIZATION OF THE SAND FLY 

 Lutzomyia diabolica (HALL) (DIPTERA: PSYCHODIDAE) 

 WITH NOTES ON ITS POTENTIAL RELATIONSHIP TO HUMAN 

 CUTANEOUS LEISHMANIASIS IN TEXAS, USA 



By .. 



Phillip G. Lawyer 



December 1984 



Chairman: Dr. Jerry F. Butler 



Cochairman: Dr. David G. Young 



Major Department: Entomology and Nematology 



A survey for potential sand fly vectors of human cutaneous 

 leishmaniasis was conducted within an endemic focus of the disease in 

 south central Texas, USA. Five species of Lutzomyia , including one 

 new species, were collected and eight new county records established. 

 Lutzomyia diabolica (Hall), the only anthropophi 1 ic sand fly 

 encountered, was the most commonly collected, accounting for 99% of 

 the total catch. This species was taken in light trap collections 

 throughout the frost-free season at a case site in D'Hanis, Texas. No 

 natural leishmanial infections were observed in more than 600 

 dissections of wild-caught female Lu. diabol ica . Several natural 

 infections of nonleishmanial parasites are reported for the first 

 time. 



The first productive laboratory colony of Lutzomyia diabolica was 

 established and detailed studies of the fly's biology were conducted 



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