Population cytogenetics of the malaria vector Anopheles leucosphyrus group
Baimai, V.
Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health 19(4): 667-680
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0125-1562 PMID: 3238480 Document Number: 315903
This paper brings together a historical review of the biosystematics of the A. leucosphyrus group, incorporating this with progress in mapping species complexes. The A. leucosphyrus group is now recognized as comprising 17 species and 2 subspecies widely distributed in forested areas of Southeast Asia. Among these, the A. dirus complex (within what was once regarded as A. balabacensis s.l.) incorporates at least 7 isomorphic species provisionally designated as species A-F and A. takasagoensis (from Taiwan); the distribution of each of these, apart from sp. E (western India) is shown on a map, while the relative proportions of the 5 species known from Thailand (species A-D and F (= A. nemophilous)) are shown for 28 localities on a more detailed map of that country alone. These 5 species also differ in seasonal abundance and in nocturnal biting activity patterns; these are described and the latter patterns are summarised graphically. Chromosomal polymorphisms have been found in the mitotic and polytene chromosomes of A. dirus A and D but A. dirus B and C show variation only in heterochromatin in the sex chromosomes. Recent cytogenetic studies on A. leucosphyrus from Sumatra, Kalimantan and southern Thailand have revealed 2 isomorphic species within this taxon of which sp. A is widespread in the last two of these areas while sp. B has only been found in Sumatra.