To determine the influence of physical factors on oviposition of Lutzomyia
migonei (Diptera: Psychodidae) under laboratory conditions, two sets of
experiments were performed. The first test was to determine the influence
of the size of pots on oviposition. Gravid flies were placed individually
or in groups in different oviposition pots. The number of eggs laid,
oviposition time and survival of gravid females were observed. In the
second experiment, the influence of irregular surfaces on oviposition was
studied. The results suggested that physical space was not an important
factor in the oviposition behavior of L. migonei and that the flies showed
a preference to oviposit on irregular horizontal surfaces in response to
thigmotropic behavior.
