Description of evandromyia spelunca, a new phlebotomine species of the cortelezzii complex, from a cave in Minas Gerais State, Brazil (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae)

The morphological characters of the new species permit to include in the Evandromyia genus, cortelezzii complex. This complex consists of three species: Evandromyia corumbaensis (Galati, Nunes, Oshiro & Rego, 1989), Evandromyia cortelezzii (Brethes, 1923) and Evandromyia sallesi (Galvao & Coutinho, 1940).The new species can be separate from the others of the cortelezzii complex through morphological characters of the male terminalia and female spermathecae.Sand flies are responsible for transmission of the genus Leishmania among vertebrates hosts and study of this insect group is of great importance in attempts to control of leishmaniasis [1]. In Brazil, the cave fauna of insects is poorly documented, and among the insects that live or frequent caves and their adjacent environments, phlebotomine sand flies call for special attention because several species are vectors of arboviruses and protozoa, among other parasites.The geographical distribution of the sand flies species depends on their ability to adapt to different ecological niches. Thus, by its development in the immature stages and their feeding habits when adults, the species of sand flies are found where both larvae and adults can find appropriate environments for their development, including blood supply for females. In this way, the geographical distribution of species can be restricted to their access to a specific environment and vertebrate host. Already the occurrence of leishmaniasis is basically determined by the presence of both a susceptible vector and a host/reservoir equally susceptible to the infection [2].The growing of tourism, involving a search for natural attractions such as cave exploration, demands a better knowledge of the threats to health that people may face in those new areas.In the present investigation a new species of sand fly from Minas Gerais is described based on both genders collected in a cave in the Lassance municipality.Sand flies were collected using CDC light traps (HP mo