Morphometric Analysis of Taxonomic Characters of Malaria Vector Mosquito Anopheles (Cellia) subpictus Grassi (Diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract

Anopheles subpictus Grassi, a vector of malaria in Oriental region, has gained importance due to its doubtful status as a complex of species. In the present study, twenty-five morphotaxonomic characters from head and wing were studied. The results reveal that the length of antenna, proboscis, palpomere 5, palpomere 4, palpomere 3 and apical pale band have significant positive correlation with the length of palpus while humeral pale spot and preapical dark spot have significant negative correlation and subcostal pale spot has significant positive correlation with the total wing length. It is asserted that some of these morphotaxonomic characters used frequently in species discrimination keys are statistically unreliable and hence result in frequent species discrimination problems being polymorphic. The reliable characters found are length of antenna, proboscis, palpus from the head, and subcostal pale spot from wing. Hence, these characters are recommended for use while preparing reliable morpho-taxonomic keys.