Oligonucleotide probes to identify three sibling species of the Anopheles farauti Laveran complex (Diptera:...

We have sequenced recombinant plasmid probes for each of 3 Anopheles farauti complex species and identified internal oligonucleotides of 25-26 base pairs, specific for each member of the complex. Synthetic oligonucleotides oAf1, oAf2 and oAf3, when radiolabelled and hybridized with deoxyribonucleic acid from An. farauti, reacted as highly specific probes for An. farauti numbers 1, 2 and 3 respectively. These probes are effective on air-dried or alcohol-preserved larval, pupal or adult specimens.