The Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) albitarsis complex includes six species: An. albitarsis, Anopheles oryzalimnetes Wilkerson and Motoki, n. sp., Anopheles marajoara, Anopheles deaneorum, Anopheles janconnae Wilkerson and Sallum, n. sp. and An. albitarsis F. Except for An. deaneorum, species of the complex are indistinguishable when only using morphology. The problematic distinction among species of the complex has made study of malaria transmission and ecology of An. albitarsis s.l. difficult. Consequently, involvement of species of the An. albitarsis complex in human Plasmodium transmission is not clear throughout its distribution range. With the aim of clarifying the taxonomy of the above species, with the exception of An. albitarsis F, we present comparative morphological and morphometric analyses, morphological redescriptions of three species and description of two new species using individuals from populations in Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina and Venezuela. The study included characters from adult females, males, fourth-instar larvae, pupae and male genitalia of An. albitarsis, An. marajoara, An. deaneorum and An. oryzalimnetes n. sp. For An. janconnae n. sp. only characters of the female, male and male genitalia were analyzed. Fourth-instar larvae, pupae and male genitalia characteristics of all five species are illustrated. Bionomics and distribution data are given based on published literature records.

Durante estudos sobre a dinâmica de transmissão da malária na Ilha de Marajó, Estado do Pará, Brasil, Galvão & Damasceno (1942) coletaram um espécime de nova espécie de anofelíneo, que foi denominada Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) marajoara Galvão & Damasceno, 1942. Ao examinarmos a lâmina com a genitália, que acompanha o holótipo, observamos que o claspete ventral da genitália masculina difere daqueles apresentados pelas espécies da Seção Argyritarsis e, conseqüentemente, de membros do Complexo Anopheles abitarsis Lynch Arribalzaga, 1878. Consideramos que a genitália masculina que foi montada na lâmina associada ao holótipo pertence a um espécime de Anopheles aquasalis Curry, 1932, embora o adulto e as exúvias de larva e da pupa sejam de Anopheles marajoara. Com o intuito de resolver este problema , nós excluímos a lâmina com a genitália de macho do material tipo de Anopheles marajoara. A título de elucidação, foram feitas ilustrações da genitália masculina em questão, bem como do adulto de An. marajoara.

During studies on the dynamics of malaria transmission in Marajó Island, State of Pará, Brazil, Galvão & Damasceno (1942) collected a single specimen of a new species that they named Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) marajoara Galvão & Damasceno, 1942. Now, examining genitalia slide associated to the holotype, we observed that the ventral claspette of the male genitalia is distinct from those of all other species of the Argyritarsis Section and consequently from members of the complex Anopheles albitarsis Lynch Arribalzaga, 1878. The male genitalia of the slide belong to a specimen of Anopheles aquasalis Curry, 1932, nevertheless, it was originally labeled as Anopheles marajoara. To solve this problem, we are setting aside the male genitalia slide associated with the holotype of Anopheles marajoara and excluding it from the type material. Illustrations of the male genitalia and adult male are included.