Abstract.To evaluate the vector competence of someLutzomyiaspp. (Diptera: Psychodidae) forLeishmania (Viannia)spp. (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosoma‐tidae), experimental infections of anthropophilic sandflies from the Colombian Pacific coast were performed, through membrane feeding and xenodiagnosis on hamsters infected withLe.(V.)braziliensisorLe.(V.)panamensis.Wild‐caught or F, generation females ofLutzomyia gomezi, Lu.hartmanni, Lu.panamensisandLu. trapidoiwere allowed to feed on hamster lesions and then maintained at 26oC and>80% r.h. on a sugar‐water diet until dissection on the fifth day post‐infection (p.i.).Despite similar infection rates (range 37–44%) in bothLu.gomeziandLu.trapidoi, infections were heavier (>100 parasites) in the latter species. Infections ofLu.trapidoiwithLe.braziliensis(n= 21) andLe.panamensis (n= 27) showed parasite migration toward the foregut, with promastigote colonization of the stomodeal valve and appearance of infective forms. In contrast, infections ofLu.gomeziwithLe. braziliensis (n= 10) andLe.panamensis (n =5) were light (<50 parasites) and usually restricted to the pylorus. InLu.hartmanni, only a few promastigotes were found in the pylorus and midgut of 3/8 specimens infected withLe.braziliensis, and noLe.panamensisdeveloped(n =19). By day 5 p.i., promastigote colonization of the hind‐ and midgut byLe.panamensiswas observed in 2/4Lu.panamensisbut notLe.braziliensis (n= 3).It was concluded thatLu.trapidoiis a more efficient vector thanLu.gomezifor bothLe.braziliensisandLe.panamensis, and thatLu.hartmanniandLu.panamensisare of minor importance forLeishmaniatransmission in this e