A programme for computer aided identification of phlebotomine sandflies of the Americas (CIPA)--presentation and check-list of American species.

The CIPA programme is a collaborative project including two entomologists from France and seven from South and Central America countries. Its objective is the development of an expert system for computer aided identification of phlebotomine sandflies from the Americas. It also includes the formation of data bases for bibliographic, taxonomic and biogeographic data. Participant consensus on taxonomic prerequisites, standardization in bibliographic data collections and selection of descriptive variables for the final programme has been established through continuous communication among participants and annual meetings. The adopted check-list of American sandflies presented here includes 386 specific taxa, ordered into three genera and 28 sub-genera or species groups.