Evidence of the specific status of Anopheles flavirostris (Diptera : Culicidae)

Anopheles flavirostris (Ludlow) from Lombok Island, Indonesia, was crossed with An. minimus species A (Chi strain) from Thailand and species E (ISG st rain). a new sibling species, from Japan, to determine genetic compatibilit y. We also compare the scanning micrographs of female cibarial armature of these three species. Both Art minimus CM and ISG females crossed with An. f lavirostris males produced eggs without embryos. One An. flavirostris femal e crossed with an An. minimus CM male deposited unhatchable ega with an 18% embryonation rate. The scanning micrographs of the cibarial armature clear ly show significant differences among An flavirostris and the two sibling s pecies of the Art minimus complex. These results support the specific statu s of An. flavirostris. Previous records of An. minimus Theobald in this cou ntry are also discussed.