Taxonomy
Collecting Anopheles dirus larvae from elephant footprints © Ralph Harbach
Anopheles dirus was initially recognised as a complex of sibling species based on scientific analyses including:
- cross-mating experiments
- studies of polytene chromosome banding patterns
- enzyme electrophoresis
More recently, several DNA methods have been developed that more effectively distinguish and identify Anopheles dirus and its closest relatives.
Molecular biology
Because Anopheles dirus is virtually indistinguishable from other members of the sibling species complex, DNA methods of identification have been developed to foster studies of its ecology, behaviour and involvement in malaria transmission.