Homologous Alkaline Phosphatases and Homologous Loci in Two Sibling Species of European Anopheline Mosquitoes

Abstract

Anopheles atroparvus and Anopheles labranchiae are two sibling species belonging to the maculipennis group of European anopheline mosquitoes. They may be considered the most closely related species of the group; their gene pools are probably the most similar. By the definition of Lorković they could be termed “semispecies”, showing some of the characteristics of the species and some of subspecies¹. Individuals of A. atroparvus and A. labranchiae are not clearly distinguishable by cytogenetic analysis of the banding pattern of the salivary chromosomes. They can be distinguished on the basis of slight differences in the micromorphology of the eggs, and also on the basis of hybridization data: the interspecific hybrid males are sterile, but introgressive hybridization is possible, for the females can be backcrossed to A. atroparvus and A. labranchiae males, and again produce normal females and several normal males.