Lutzomyia migonei
is a vector of leishmaniasis with a wide distribution in South America, which could favour
population differentiation and speciation. Cryptic species of the
Lutzomyia longipalpis
complex, the widely dis-
tributed sand f ly vector of visceral leishmaniasis in Latin America, have previously been shown to display distinct
copulation songs. We found that
Lu. migonei males also produce a song during copulation. This “lovesong” pres-
ents short trains (6-8 pulses) with an inter-pulse interval around 26 ms and is potentially involved in cryptic female
choice and insemination success.
