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We report a previously unrecognized mosquito species from eastern Colombia belonging to the Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) albitarsis complex. We provisionally name this taxon An. albitarsis species "F." Until now, the only members of the Albitarsis Complex recorded from north of the Amazon River have been An. marajoara and a putative phylogenetic species, An. albitarsis "E." As with the other largely monomorphic species in the complex, we were able to detect its presence using ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer 2 (rDNA ITS2) and partial white gene sequences. Unlike An. marajoara, but in common with other species in the complex, An. albitarsis F lacks the white gene fourth intron. This species is sympatric with An. marajoara in a malaria-endemic area in Puerto Carreño, Vichada Department, Colombia. It could be an important current and/or historical vector of human malaria parasites at this locality and, depending on its actual distribution, elsewhere in Colombia and Venezuela.
Received August 31, 2006. Accepted for publication January 24, 2007.
Acknowledgments: The authors thank Andrea Marcela Conde, Entomological Unit coordinator, and technical personnel of Vichada’s Health Department, Colombia, for logistic support to obtain samples. The authors thank Miguel Volovsek for help with phylogenetic analysis, Yvonne Linton and Ralph Harbach for very helpful reviews and editing of the final manuscript, and Jan Conn for excellent suggestions incorporated into early drafts.
Financial support: This research was performed with support provided by the National Health Institute of Colombia. This work was performed under a Memorandum of Understanding between the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and the Smithsonian Institution, with institutional support provided by both organizations. Funding and scientific support was provided through NIH Grant AI RO154139 to Jan Conn.
Disclaimer: The material presented here reflects the view of the authors and should not be construed to represent those of the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense.
* Address correspondence to Richard Wilkerson, 4210 Silver Hill Road, Suitland, MD 20746. E-mail: wilkersonr{at}si.edu
Authors’ addresses: Helena H. L. Brochero, Facultad de Agronomía, Edificio 500, Campus Universitario, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Carrera 30 Calle 45, Bogotá, D.C. E-mail: embrochero{at}unal.edu.co. Cong Li and Richard Wilkerson, 4210 Silver Hill Road, Suitland, MD 20746. E-mails: chinafir{at}yahoo.com, wilkersonr{at}si.edu.
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