-155- 



female survived oviposition, she took a second blood meal, but no 

 subsequent feedings were observed in Lu. diabol ica females. Other 

 authors have reported multiple feedings in several species of sand 

 flies (Gemetchu, 1976; Endris, 1982; Beach, 1984). 



Laboratory-reared lu. diabol ica feed indiscriminantly on a wide 

 variety of hosts including man. Endris (1982) reported feedings on 

 the following: human ( Homo sapiens ), dog ( Canis famil iaris ), woodrat 

 ( Neotoma micropus) , Syrian hamster ( Mesocricetus auretus ), gray 

 squirrel ( Sciurus carol inensis ), domestic rabbit ( Oryctolagus 

 cuniculus ), opossum ( Didelphis marsupial is ), calf ( Bos taurus ), horse 

 ( Equus cabal lus ), and sheep ( Ovis aries) . With the exception of 

 Syrian hamsters, these hosts occur within the geographic range of Lu . 

 diabol ica . Such a broad range of hosts is certain to enhance the 

 vector capacity of the insect. 



The diuresis observed in blood-feeding Lu. diabol ica has also 

 been observed by other workers (Chaniotis, 1967; Gemetchu, 1976). 

 This phenomenon is common in fluid feeding insects, which at least for 

 a time after feeding, contain an excess of water. This excess is 

 reduced by a rapid diuresis, thus preserving the osmotic concentration 

 of the hemolymph (Chapman, 1971). 



There was no significant difference in fecundity due to the type 

 of host offered. Ready (1979) found that mammalian bloods differed in 

 their ability to promote oocyte maturation in _Lu. longipalpis . This 

 subject is still under investigation with Lu . diabol ica , especially in 

 connection with membrane feeding studies. 



Johnson and Hertig (1961) found that when immobilized with drugs, 

 hamsters seem to lose their attractiveness for sand flies, possibly 



