COMPARATIVE EGG MORPHOLOGY OF 6 SPECIES OF THE ALBIMANUS SECTION OF ANOPHELES (NYSSORHYNCHUS) (DIPTERA, CULICIDAE)

Scanning electron micrographs were used to describe and compare struct ures of eggs obtained from wild-caught females of 6 species of the Alb imanus section of Anoplzeles (Nyssorhynchus) from South America, which includes important regional vectors of human malaria. Among species f rom the Oswaldoi Complex, eggs of Anopheles oswaldoi (Peryassu) were n ot differentiated from those of its sibline: Anopheles known ri Galvao & Damasceno, and eggs of the former species from Brazil, Ecuaduor, an d Suriname showed no regionally distinguishing characteristics. Eggs o f Anopheles dunhami Causey were recognized by the reticulate beadwork of outer chorion on the dorsal plastron, 1 of several egg characters s eparating this species from the related Anopheles trinkae Faran and An opheles muneztovari Cabaldon. In both species examined from the Strode i Complex, Anopheles strodei Root and Anopheles benarrochi Gabaldon, C ova Garcia & Lopez, the anterior frill forms a distinctive ventral cro wn separated from the floats. Anopheles triannulatus (Neiva & Pinto), collected from 4 geographic sites, differed in the occurrence of perfo rated mounds on the dorsal plastron, but these chorionic structures an d the extent of overlap of floats varied among eggs from single female s. Changes among related species in the structure of the anterior fril l and dorsal plastron are described for phylogenetic and developmental inferences.