Abstract
The identification of adult female anopheline mosquitoes is an important aspect in malaria surveillance and control strategy throughout the world, and taxonomic keys are being regularly revised and updated as new information becomes available. However, the currently available key to the anophelines of Sri Lanka is of limited use, because they were published more than 25 years ago. This paper presents an illustrated key for the identification of 23 adult female Anopheles mosquitoes which are currently recognized as local anopheline species in Sri Lanka.
Highlights
The genus Anopheles is the only mosquito taxon known to transmit human malarial protozoa
Traditional field taxonomy based on morphological characteristics remains the backbone of all vector control programs
Two illustrated keys to the Anopheles of Sri Lanka (Amarasinghe 1990; Carter 1950) are of limited value, as these were published more than 25 years ago and significant advances in our knowledge of the Anopheles mosquitoes have occurred in the intervening years
Summary
The genus Anopheles is the only mosquito taxon known to transmit human malarial protozoa. Anophelines are known to be capable of transmitting dirofilarial nematodes and arboviruses of veterinary and medical importance (Ramachandra 1984). The taxonomy of this group of mosquitoes is, of great importance, since vector incrimination is dependent upon accurate species identification. Previous records of Sri Lankan Anopheles were imperfect, and even the number and names of the species present were doubtful. Twenty-two anopheline species were recorded in Sri Lanka by Amarasinghe (1990). Two illustrated keys to the Anopheles of Sri Lanka (Amarasinghe 1990; Carter 1950) are of limited value, as these were published more than 25 years ago and significant advances in our knowledge of the Anopheles mosquitoes have occurred in the intervening years. The key can be used to initially allocate specimens to species group and to species
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