Revision of the Leucosphyrus Group of Anopheles (Cellia) (Diptera, Culicidae). This is a comprehensive revision of 20 species of the Leucosphyrus Group of the Neomyzomyia Series of Anopheles (Cellia). Morphological description of the adults, male and female, male genitalia, pupa and fourth-instar larva are provided for each taxon in addition to bionomics, distribution data and systematic discussion for each species, including diagnostic characters. Identification keys for females and fourth-instar larvae are provided. When possible medical importance of each species is included. Illustrations of of the adults, fourth-instar larvae and pupae are provided. Distribution maps for each species are mainly based on the material examined; however, when possible published data were also used. Tables on adult character variations, fourth-instar larval and pupal setal branching are included as appendices. A neotype for An. takasagoensis Morishita and An. sulawesi Koesoemawinangoen, and a lectotype for An. balabacensis Baisas, are designated. The authorship of An. sulawesi previously cited as Waktoedi is corrected to Koesoemawinangoen.

Revision of the Leucosphyrus group of Anopheles (Cellia) (Diptera, Culicidae)

Indoor, day-resting collections of Anopheles minimus mosquitos from human dwellings in the study area in Assam, India, indicated that these insects were prevalent throughout the year and that their maximum abundance occurred from March to August. A. minimus was identified as a vector of malaria, and sporozoite infections were recorded every month of the year, with the highest rating occurring in October. The mosquito was highly anthropophilic and fed on human hosts (indoor) all through the night, but feeding was more pronounced between 01:00 and 04:00, the person-biting rate was 13.7 per night. Breeding occurred throughout the year in slow-flowing streams with grassy banks. A. fluviatilis was also identified as a vector of malaria in the study area but occurred in low density, and sporozoite infections were only seasonal.

Anopheles minimus: its bionomics and role in the transmission of malaria in Assam, India.

In India malaria endemicity is characterized by diverse ecology and multiple disease vector species [1]. In the Southeast Asian region, India alone contributes to nearly 80% of malaria cases with the largest population of the world living at risk of malaria. In 2011, India reported 1.3 million confirmed malaria cases and 753 attributable deaths, but estimated cases and deaths are 10 to 20 times more [2,3]. Of the two Plasmodium prevalent in India, Plasmodium falcipa‐ rum incidence has not declined significantly although P. vivax has resulting in the rising trend of the former parasite to presently contributing ~50% of the reported cases. Distribution and spread of chloroquine resistance and emergence of multi-drug resistant strains may have contributed to this phenomenon [4]. Even though transmission intensities across India are lowto-moderate, disease remains geographically entrenched in poor marginalized population groups particularly living in remote/ forest fringe/ tribal belts of eastern, central and north‐ eastern states for contributing >65% of malarial episodes [5,6].

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The Dominant Mosquito Vectors of Human Malaria in India

Among six dominant mosquito vector species involved in malaria transmission in India, Anopheles minimus is a major species in northeast India and held responsible for focal disease outbreaks characterized by high-rise of Plasmodium falciparum infections and attributable death cases. It has been now genetically characterized that among the three-member species of the Minimus Complex spread in Asia, An. minimus (former species A) is prevalent in India including northeastern states and east-central state of Odisha. It is recorded in all seasons and accounts for perennial transmission evidenced by records of sporozoite infections. This species is highly anthropophilic, and largely endophilic and endophagic, recorded breeding throughout the year in slow flowing seepage water streams. The populations of An. minimus in India are reported to be highly diverse indicating population expansion with obvious implications for judicious application of vector control interventions. Given the rapid ecological changes due to deforestation, population migration and expansion and developmental activities, there is scope for further research on the existence of potential additional sibling species within the An. minimus complex and bionomics studies on a large geographical scale for species sanitation. For control of vector populations, DDT continues to be applied on account of retaining susceptibility status even after decades of residual spraying. Anopheles minimus is a highly adaptive species and requires continuous and sustained efforts for its effective control to check transmission and spread of drug-resistant malaria. Anopheles minimus populations are reportedly diminishing in northeastern India whereas it has staged comeback in east-central State of Odisha after decades of disappearance with its eco-biological characteristics intact. It is the high time to siege the opportunity for strengthening interventions against this species for its population diminution to sub-optimal levels for reducing transmission in achieving malaria elimination by target date of 2030.

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Biology, distribution and control of Anopheles (Cellia) minimus in the context of malaria transmission in northeastern India

Records of mosquitoes found in northeastern region of India, from published as well as unpublished sources are compiled and an updated list of species is presented. It includes 130 mosquito species (37 anophelines and 93 culicines). The check-list includes 5 mosquito species recently reported from India. These are Armigeres (Leicesteria) dolichocephalus (Leicester), 1908; Culex (Culiciomyia) harrisoni Sirivanakarn, 1977; Culex (Eumelanomyia) hinglungensis Chu, 1957; Heizmannia (Heizmannia) aureochaeta (Leicester), 1903 and Uranotaenia (Uranotaenia) micans Leicester, 1908. It also contains 18 additional regional records.

V. M. John

Papers

Studies on malaria transmission in Tirap District, Arunachal Pradesh (N.E.F.A.).