Y-CHROMOSOME POLYMORPHISM IN SPECIES-B AND SPECIES-C OF ANOPHELES CULICIFACIES COMPLEX

Isofemale cultures of wild-caught Anopheles culicifacies collected fro m 11 localities representing different ecoepidemiological zones on the mainland of India were identified by examining both F-1 male larval m itotic karyotypes and polytene chromosomes of half-gravid F-1 adult fe males. All cultures identified as species A by polytene chromosome exa mination had submetacentric Y chromosomes. In species B and C, some is ofemale cultures had acrocentric Y chromosomes, whereas others were su bmetacentric. The study revealed the existence of a Y chromosome polym orphism in species B and C; consequently, male mitotic karyotypes are of limited use for differentiating members of the An. culicifacies com plex.