Cytogenetics of Anopheles albimanus (Diptera: Culicidae)1

Abstract

A map of the salivary gland chromosomes of the Gorgas strain of Anopheles albimanus Wiedemann was prepared and used as a standard for comparison with the chromosomes of populations from El Salvador, Mexico, Guatemala, and Jamaica. All of these populations were similar in chromosome configurations. Xo inversions were found. Both the Mexico and the Guatemala strains, as well as the insecticide-resistant strain from El Salvador, were interfertile with the Gorgas population, and the hybrid chromosomes in all cases were similar to the standard. From this the conclusion was reached that A. albimanus shows little, if any, polymorphism. There is no indication of a tendency toward the formation of sibling species in geographically isolated populations. No gross chromosomal aberrations or differences in banding patterns could be associated with the high level of dieldrin- and DDT-resistance in the El Salvador population; nor could a correlation be established between insecticide resistance and colorational characters of the adult female.