Distribution of members of the Anopheles farauti complex in the northern territory of Australia.

The distribution of members of the Anopheles farauti complex was studied in the Northern Territory of Australia during 3 surveys conducted in 1988, 1989, and 1990. At the time of these surveys An. farauti s.l. was common north of 15 degrees S along the coast and up to 50 km inland. The sibling species An. farauti 1, An. farauti 2, and An. farauti 3 were identified from 126 adult and larval collections using allozyme electrophoresis and species-specific DNA probes. Anopheles farauti 1 was the most abundant species along the coast and was found in 45% of collections. Anopheles farauti 2 had a more restricted range, occurring in 12% of collections on the east coast and in the central area of the survey region. Anopheles farauti 3 had the widest distribution of the 3 species, occurring on the coast and throughout the coastal plain up to 100 km inland. It was found in 43% of the collection sites. The distribution of the 3 sibling species is discussed with regard to the possibility of malaria transmission in the area.