Anopheles culicifacies complex: population cytogenetic evidence for species D (Diptera: Culicidae)

Seven paracentric inversions, designated i super(1) to o super(1), on polytene chromosome arm 2 and one, r, on chromosome arm 3 were found in natural populations of the Anopheles culicifacies) complex. Of the polymorphic inversions on chromosome arm 2, one was found in species B, whereas all others were in species A and the r inversion on chromosome arm 3 was found in both the species. One inversion on chromosome arm 2, the i super(1) inversion, was observed at low frequency in parts of northern India and as a cline of progressively higher frequencies towards central India. In southern India, there was no specific pattern of i super(1) distribution, with most localities showing Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The data support a recent report of species D within this group, but polytene chromosome arrangement cannot be used to identify species A and D at an individual level.