PHLEBOTOMINE SANDFLIES OF KENYA (DIPTERA, PSYCHODIDAE) .1. THE VALIDITY OF PHLEBOTOMUS-(LARROUSSIUS)-ELGONENSIS NGOKA, MADEL AND MUTINGA

Sandflies collected in Kitum cave on the Kenyan side of Mount Elgon were identified as Phlebotomus (Larrousius) elgonensis Ngoka, Madel and Mutinga, a species synonymized with P. (L.) aculeatus Lewis, Minter and Ashford, by D. J. Lewis. A comparison of the flies from Kitum cave with P. aculeatus from Lake Elmentaita, Kenya, shows marked differences in the lengths of: (a) the spermathecal ducts of the female; (b) the style, coxite, genital pump and aedeagus of the male; and (c) the palpal segments of both sexes. Other notable differences are in the shape of the base of the spermathecal ducts; the position of spines on, and the shape of,the tip of the aedeagus; and the appearance of the pharyngeal armatures of both sexes. Phlebotomus elgonensis is redescribed and it is concluded that it is sufficiently different from P. aculeatus to deserve recognition as a valid species.