[On molecular identification and taxonomic status of Anopheles lesteri and Anopheles anthropophagus in China (Diptera: Culicidae)].

Objective] To clarify the taxonomic status of Anopheles lesteri and An.anthropophagus in China. [Methods] Using molecular identification (PCR assay and rDNA\|ITS2 sequencing) to examine the field anopheline mosquito specimens from Liaoning and Shandong. According to the ITS2 sequences, molecular phylogenetic tree was made. [Results] According to the molecular identification, An.lesteri and An.anthropophagus were distributed both in Liaoning Province and Shandong Province. The length and GC content of rDNA\|ITS2 sequence were 451 bp, 46 2% in An.lesteri (n=6), and 448 bp, 46 0% in An.anthropophagus (n=10), respectively. The ITS2 sequences from presentation sites were same in An.lesteri, while the intraspecies difference in An.anthropophagus was 0 88%. The specific difference between An.lesteri and An.anthropophagus was 25 7%. By analyzing molecular phylogenetic tree, the relationship between An.lesteri and An.sinensis, An.anthropophagus and An.liangshanensis was found to be closer. [Conclusion] According to the molecular identification, it was defined that An.lesteri and An.anthropophagus were sympatric independent species in China.