Identification of oviposition attractants for the sandfly <i>Lutzomyia longipalpis</i> (Diptera: Psychodidae) in volatiles of faeces from vertebrates

Extracts of volatiles from rabbit and chicken faeces preferentially attracted gravid sandflies, <i>Lutzomyia longipalpis</i> (Lutz and Neiva), in an oviposition bioassay. In electrophysiology experiments, the same extracts selectively stimulated two olfactory cells while inhibiting another in ascoid sensilla on the antennae of these flies. Analysis of faeces volatiles by gas chromatography linked to ascoid sensillum recording revealed two early eluting electrophysiologically active components of rabbit faeces. These active compounds were identified in both rabbit and chicken faeces volatile extracts by gas chromatography -mass spectrometry as hexanal and 2-methyl-2-butanol. Hexanal stimulated one cell type and inhibited another, whereas 2-methyl-2-butanol stimulated a third cell type. A 1:l mixture of synthetic hexanal and 2-methyl-2-butanol elicited the same targeted oviposition response from gravid females on the treatment septum of the bioassay as did the total volatile extract of rabbit or chicken faeces. <br> The monoterpenes α(+)-pinene (plus some optical and positional isomers) and a-terpinene activated a separate cell type, whereas benzaldehyde stimulated the same receptor as hexanal, but with a higher threshold. Furthermore, an olfactory cell selectively tuned to the perception of the male sex pheromone of this species was also found in the ascoid sensillum.