[Research Progress in Classification of Anopheles hyrcanus Group (Diptera : Culicidae)]

The Anopheles hyrcanus group is widely distributed in the Palearctic and Oriental regions. Among the reported members, 25 species have definitive scientific names. Some are determined as vectors of malaria, lymphatic filariasis, and Japanese encephalitis. However, it is extremely difficult to morphologically discriminate the group members. With the development of techniques like crossing experiment, karyotype analysis, and molecular phylogeny, the classification of the Hyrcanus Group has been changed. In this review we update the list of the Hyrcanus Group, including addition of newly discovered species An. belenrae, An. kleini, An. xui, and An. hyrcanus spIR, and merges of An. junlianensis, An. yatsushiroensis, and An. kunmingensis as synonyms. We also discuss the relationships between An. hyrcanus and An. pseudopictus, An. lesteri and An. paraliae, as well as An. kleini and An. engarensis. This review will help to clearly define the relationships among the species.