Background
Several tropical diseases are transmitted by insects and among them is included the leishmaniases, a group of diseases which the aethiological agents are species of parasite of the genus
This host/parasite is very old being recorded in the Cretaceous and Miocene periods, where extinct sandflies in amber have been found to be associated with protozoa described as belonging to the genus
To date, in the New World, fifteen species of fossil sandflies had been formally described and most are from the Dominican Republic and only one from Mexico. All the species are within the genera
The objective of this study was to carry out a description of one species of phlebotomine sandflies from the Dominican Republic, based on a holotype male, enclosed in amber.
Methods
The description of the fossil species was based on direct observation under the optical microscope of the holotype specimen. The piece of amber measuring 0.9 by 0.8 by 0.5 mm, containing the male holotype and one flea. The insects were examined under the microscope and measured using an ocular micrometer calibrated for this purpose. Drawings were made using a microscope with the aid of a camera lucida and photographs taken with Konica digital equipment with a definition of 8.0 megapixels, the photographs being taken directly through the eyepiece of the microscope. The measurements are given in micrometers. Some morphological details that help to distinguish fossil from extant species have been provided. The classification system of Galati
Results
Description of Pintomyia dissimilis nov. sp. (Figs
drawing of
drawing of
Holotype male
Total length 2.029. The coloration of the insect was indistinguishable.
Head (lateral view)
Clypeus 124 μm and labrum-epipharynx 235 μm long. Flagellomeres measurements: AIII 262; AIV 124; AV 110, AXVI and AXV lost in holotype. Interocular distance was not measured due to the lateral position of the head. Palpal formula 1.4.2.3.5; palpomere lengths as follows: 1° – 28, 2° – 138, 3° – 152, 4° – 83, 5° – 359. Ascoids, papillae and Newstead's spine not visible.
Cervix
Ventro-cervical sensillae could not be observed.
Thorax
Hind femur without row spine. Length of femora, tibia, basitarsi and tarsi II+III+IV+V: on foreleg 718, 800, 593 and, 718 μm; midleg 745, 952, and 662 μm (tarsi II+III+IV+V lost); hindleg 772, 1.132, 745 and, 718 μm. Due the wing position, was impossible to measure the veins sections, width and length, but Sc is free.
Abdomen
Gonocoxite 248 μm and 55 width, without tuft of bristles. Gonostyle 207 μm, presenting three developed spines, of which one apical, one internal on the basal third and the other external implanted close to the apical. Pre-apical bristle absent. Paramere 221 μm long, presenting strong curvature in elbow-shaped in the median region of the ventral margin and a group of small bristles at its apex. Lateral lobe long, measuring 290 length by 28 width. Lateral lobe/gonocoxite 1.17: 1. Is not visible the ejaculatory pump and genital filament throughout its length. Part of this is out of abdomen, leaving the aedeagus, the exposed area measured 304 μm, and the tip is simple.
Derivatio nominis
From the Latim
Type Material
One male holotype specimens in Miocene amber from Dominican Republic, north of Santiago, deposited in the Collection of phlebotomine of the Instituto René Rachou (Fundação Oswaldo Cruz), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. In accordance with section 8.6 of the ICZN's International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, we have deposited copies of this article at the following five publicly accessible libraries: Natural History Museum, London, UK; American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA; Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France; Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia; Academia Sinica, Taipei.
Discussion
Although the ascoids have not been displayed, as well as the papillae and Newstead spines, the character set, such as palpomere 5 longer than 3 + 4; gonostyle with three spines, paramere simple and lateral lobe longer than the gonocoxite permit the specimen to be to included a new species in the genus
Four extant species in series
Of 14 male fossil species described, 10 belong to the genus
Only two phlebotomine fossil species have three developed spines in the gonostyle, i. e.,
One species,
Conclusion
The new species described in the present study named
Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Authors' contributions
JDAF, PCLSM, CCS and RPB participated in morphological analysis of the specimens. CCS and PCLSM did drawing and measurements of the new species. JDAF and RPB drafted the manuscript. All authors read and agreed with this manuscript.