Fluorescence banding techniques in the identification of sibling species of the anopheles gambiae complex

The mitotic chromosomes of the sibling species A and B of the Anopheles gambiae complex were stained with Hoechst 33258 and examined by fluorescence microscopy. The autosomes fluoresce homogenously and similarly in both species while the sex chromosomes differ in the location and brightness of some heterochromatic blocks. These cytochemical differences allow the cytotaxonomic identification of these cryptic species.