App: Central American Malaria Vectors

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We present illustrated identification keys to the adult female mosquitoes belonging to subfamily Anophelinae. Almost all are in genus Anopheles, which worldwide is the only mosquito genus that transmits human malaria. Among the approximately 40 described species in Central America about 25% are known to be efficient vectors of malaria, but others are suspected (see* below). Three biogeographical regions are represented here in “Central America.” The fauna of northern Mexico is very similar to southern North America, and that of eastern Panama is very similar to northern South America. Since there remain many unanswered questions about the identities of many South American species the keys presented here will not necessarily work for eastern Panama.

This key is based on Wilkerson and Strickman, 1990 (Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association, vol. 6: 7-34) who used published literature and original observations. In addition to morphology, country of occurrence has been used as a character in identification. Actual specimens, and often type material, were examined for nearly all the species. Literature used here includes: Faran, 1980, Albimanus Section of subgenus Nyssorhynchus (Contributions of the American Entomological Institute, vol. 15: 1-215.); Linthicum, 1988, Argyritarsis Section of subgenus Nyssorhynchus (Mosquito Systematics, vol. 20: 99-271); Zavortink, 1970, treehole Anopheles (Contributions of the American Entomological Institute, vol. 5: 1-35); Zavortink, 1973, subgenus Kerteszia (Contributions of the American Entomological Institute, vol. 9: 1-54; and, Floore et al., 1976, Crucians Subgroup of subgenus Anopheles (Mosquito Systematics 8: 1-109).