Assessment of synthetic chemicals for the anthropophilic sandfly Lutzomyia cruciata attraction to light-baited traps

Effective and less risky tools for monitoring the anthropophilic sandfly Lutzomyia (Tricholateralis) cruciata (Coquillett) (Diptera: Psychodidae) are scarce, even though this sandfly species may act as a vector of Leishmania mexicana Biagi (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) in the Americas. We evaluated the effectiveness of 1-octen-3-ol, butyric acid, lactic acid, ammonium acetate, and cyclopentanone as attractants for the collection of L. cruciata in field conditions. Chemical lures were placed in CDC light traps installed within an urban forest. A total of 122 (87.8%) individuals of L. cruciata were captured, and 79.5% were females. Other sandfly species such as Micropygomyia cayennensis cayennensis (7.9%), Micropygomyia chiapanensis (3.6%), and Dampfomyia atulapai (0.7%) were also caught. A higher and significant proportion of L. cruciata females were attracted to all compounds evaluated as compared to the other three species. The compound 1-octen-3-ol was the most attractive compound and the only one that attracts females exclusively, followed by cyclopentanone, butyric acid, and ammonium acetate. The use of 1-octen-3-ol could be recommended as an additive to CDC light traps under field conditions.

Automated summary

Effective attractants for monitoring Lutzomyia cruciata, a potential vector of Leishmania mexicana, are limited. This study found that 1-octen-3-ol was the most effective attractant for female L. cruciata in field conditions.