Sequence analysis of the second internal transcribed spacer of ribosomal DNA in Anopheles oswaldoi (Diptera : Culicidae)

Sequence divergence in the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) of rib osomal DNA was examined for female specimens of Anopheles oswaldoi Peryassu from 7 localities in South America. The lengths of ITS2 for all mosquitoes ranged from 348 to 356 nucleotides. After alignment of these sequences. si milarity ranged from 87 to 100%. Divergence was within the range of inter-s pecific differences for members of anopheline species complexes. Therefore, specimens were placed into 4 groups that may correspond to at least 4 cryp tic species. One is probably related to An. oswaldoi sensu stricto and anot her to Anopheles konderi Galvao & Damasceno. The other 2 groups may corresp ond to species for which morphological identification remains to be clarifi ed. These data provide evidence that An. oswaldoi comprise a complex of cry ptic species and that DNA identification may help to resolve the taxonomic questions related to this group.