Anopheles culicifacies complex: evidence for a new sibling species, species C [Vector of malaria in the Indian subcontinent]

Examination of ovarian polytene chromosomes of Anopheles (Cellia) culicifacies Giles (Diptera: Culicidae), from some villages around Delhi, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh, revealed the presence of two fixed paracentric inversions, g super(1) and h super(1) on chromosome 2. The positive assortative mating observed between populations with specific inversion arrangements lead the authors to designate the Xab; 2 + super(g(sup 1))h super(1) population as a separate species, species C.