Development of a method for the cytological identification of man-biting sibling species within the Simulium damnosum complex.

A method is described for the preparation of adult Malpighian tubule polytene chromosomes from members of the Simulium damnosum complex. This method was used to show that the banding pattern is conserved between adult and larval tissues, and consequently it has been possible to demonstrate that within the S. sanctipauli subcomplex both S. soubrense 'B' and S. sanctipauli bite humans. The degree tubule development is correlated with the gonotrophic cycle and appears to be dependent on food source. This suggests that there is a physiological stage which is optimum for obtaining maximum polyteny for cytotaxonomy.