Sandfly pheromones: Their biology and potential for use in control programs

Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae) is the vector of Leishmania chagasi the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in South and Central America, particularly Brazil, where the greatest incidence occurs. The disease is fatal if untreated. Although huge efforts have been made to control VL the incidence is increasing. Vector control remains an important element of disease control but residual spraying and other strategies have failed to make any lasting impact. Manipulation of sandfly chemical communication offers the opportunity to add new techniques and tools to reduce sandfly populations and thereby reduce Leishmania transmission. This paper reports the current understanding of several areas of sandfly chemical ecology and their prospects for application.