IDENTIFICATION OF SPECIES-RELATED TO ANOPHELES (NYSSORHYNCHUS) ALBITARSIS BY RANDOM AMPLIFIED POLYMORPHIC DNA-POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION (DIPTERA, CULICIDAE)

Species-specific Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA-Polymerase Chain Rea ction (RAPD-PCR) markers were used to identify four species related to Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) albitarsis Lynch-Arribalzaga from 12 sites in Brazil and 4 in Venezuela. In a previous study (Wilkerson et al. 19 95), which included sites in Paraguay and Argentina, these four specie s were designated ''A'', ''B'', ''C'' and ''D''. it was hypothesized t hat species A is An. (Nys.) albitarsis, species B is undescribed, spec ies C is An. (Nys.) marajoara Galvao and Damasceno and species D is An (Nys.) deaneorum Rosa-Freitas. Species D, previously characterized by RAPD-PCR from a small sample from northern Argentina and southern Bra zil, is reported here from the type locality of An. (Nys.) deaneorum, Guajara-Mirim, State of Rondonia, Brazil. Species C and D,were found b y RAPD-PCR to be sympatric at Costa Marques, State of Rondonia, Brazil . Species A and C have yet to be encountered at the same locality. The RAPD markers for species C were found to be conserved over 4, 620 km; from Iguape State of Sao Paulo, Brazil to Rio Socuavo, State of Zulia , Venezuela. RAPD-PCR was determined to be an effective means for the identification of unknown specimens within this species complex.