The specific status of Anopheles minimus s.l. collected from Taiwan.

At least three members (species A, C, and E) of the Anopheles minimus complex have been described in the Orient. This study investigated the specific status of An. minimus collected in the southern part of Taiwan by crossing experiments with species A from Thailand and species E from Japan. Crosses between Taiwan An. minimus and species A revealed genetic compatibilities. Post-zygotic isolation was observed in crosses between Taiwan An. minimus and species E. Hybrid progeny were only obtained from Taiwan female X species E male. F2 hybrid progeny were not obtained, since the hybrid males were sterile or almost sterile, with atrophied testes or abnormal spermatozoa. The hybrid females backcrossed with either Taiwan F1 progeny and species E males, and laid eggs with lower fertility and viability. This study supports previous published data regarding the analysis of the D3 region of the 28S gene of ribosomal DNA that An. minimus species A is indigenous to Taiwan. Whether other members of the An. minimus complex exist in Taiwan is not conclusive and needs more study.