Research
Research Interests
- Taxonomy, phylogeny, and classification of mosquitoes (with special reference to morphological and ecological diversity)
- Integrated systematics of disease vectors, with emphasis on multidisciplinary studies, to elucidate their roles in disease transmission and resolve problems involving species identification, taxonomy, classification, and evolutionary relationships
My interests span the entire family Culicidae, which includes more than 3,500 mosquito species. A principal aim of my work is to gain a better understanding of the taxonomy, molecular diversity, distribution, and ecology of mosquitoes of medical and scientific importance. This aim is realised through integrated systematics studies of disease vectors and related taxa. Another major aim of my research is to enhance knowledge of the morphology, taxonomy, and evolution of taxa at all levels of classification. The unifying theme of my research is the nature of species and higher level taxa, and the best ways, both theoretical and practical, of defining them. Much of my work is realised through research leadership and collaboration. Collaborative research undertaken with colleagues from diverse communities nationally and internationally has contributed in a major way toward my research accomplishments. The products this research contribute to one of my primary aspirations, the creation of a platform of data for the family Culicidae that can be used by others and serve as a basis for more detailed studies.
Current Research Projects
Results of Research
The results of my research fall within six subject areas: comparative anatomy, taxonomy, identification, medical entomology, phylogeny and classification, and vector systematics. A selection of publications from each of these areas is presented below (see Publications for a complete bibliography).
Comparative anatomy
- Harbach, R.E. 1978. Comparative structure of the labiohypopharynx of fourth stage mosquito larvae (Diptera: Culicidae), with comments on larval morphology, evolution and feeding habits. Mosquito Systematics 10: 301–333. Harbach 1978
- Harbach, R.E. & Knight, K.L. 1980. Taxonomists' Glossary of Mosquito Anatomy. Plexus Publishing, Inc., Marlton, New Jersey. xi + 415 pp.
- Harbach, R.E. 1991. Ontogeny of the larval stage of Sabethes chloropterus, with special reference to setal development and phylogenetic implications for the family Culicidae (Diptera). Mosquito Systematics 23: 10–24. Harbach 1991
- Harbach, R.E. & Peyton, E.L. 1993. Morphology and evolution of the larval maxilla and its importance in the classification of the Sabethini (Diptera: Culicidae). Mosquito Systematics 25: 1–16. Harbach & Peyton 1993
- Harbach, R.E. & Howard, T.M. 1997. Metathoracic sensilla in mosquitoes (Culicidae) and related Diptera, and their potential importance in taxonomy and behavioural physiology. Bulletin of Entomological Research 87: 101–104.
Taxonomy
- Harbach, R.E., Harrison, B.A. & Gad, A.M. 1984. Culex (Culex) molestus Forskal (Diptera: Culicidae): neotype designation, description, variation, and taxonomic status. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 86: 521–542.
- Harbach, R.E., Dahl, C. & White, G.B. 1985. Culex (Culex) pipiens Linnaeus (Diptera: Culicidae): concepts, type designations, and description. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 87: 1–24.
- Harbach, R.E. 1988. The mosquitoes of the subgenus Culex in southwestern Asia and Egypt (Diptera: Culicidae). Contributions of the American Entomological Institute (Ann Arbor) 24(1): vi + 1–236. Harbach 1988
- Harbach, R.E. 1991. A new subgenus of the genus Sabethes (Diptera: Culicidae). Mosquito Systematics 23: 1–9. Harbach 1991
- Harbach, R.E. 1994. The subgenus Sabethinus of Sabethes (Diptera: Culicidae). Systematic Entomology 19: 207–234.
- Harbach, R.E. & Peyton, E.L. 2000. Systematics of Onirion, a new genus of Sabethini (Diptera: Culicidae) from the Neotropical Region. Bulletin of the Natural History Museum Entomology Series 69: 115-169.
- Linton, Y.-M., Dusfour, I., Howard, T.M., Ruiz, F., Manh, N.D., Dinh, T.H., Sochanta, T., Cooseman, M. & Harbach, R.E. 2005. Anopheles (Cellia) epiroticus (Diptera: Culicidae), a new malaria vector species in the Southeast Asian Sundaicus Complex. Bulletin of Entomological Research 95: 329–339.
- Harbach, R.E., Rattanarithikul, R. & Harrison, B.A. 2005. Baimaia, a new subgenus for Anopheles kyondawensis Abraham, a unique crabhole-breeding anopheline in southeastern Asia. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 107: 750–761.
- Harbach, R.E., Parkin, E., Chen, B. & Butlin, R.K. 2006. Anopheles (Cellia) minimus Theobald (Diptera: Culicidae): neotype designation, characterization, and systematics. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 108: 198–209.
- Harbach, R.E., Vu Duc Huong & Kitching, I.J. 2007. Systematics of Kimia, a new genus of Sabethini (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Oriental Region. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 109: 102–120.
- Harbach, R.E., Garros, C., Nguyen Duc Manh & Manguin, S. 2007. Formal taxonomy of species C of the Anopheles minimus sibling species complex (Diptera: Culicidae). Zootaxa 1654: 41–54. Harbach et al. 2007
- Harbach, R.E., Rattanarithikul, R., Howard, T.M., Linton, Y.-M. & Kitching, I.J. 2007. Systematics of a new genus and cavernicolous species of the mosquito tribe Aedini (Diptera: Culicidae) from Thailand. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 109: 469–488.
- Rossi, G.C. & Harbach, R.E. 2008. Phytotelmatomyia, a new Neotropical subgenus of Culex (Diptera: Culicidae). Zootaxa 1879: 1–17. Rossi & Harbach 2008
Identification
- Harbach, R.E. 1985. Pictorial keys to the genera of mosquitoes, subgenera of Culex and the species of Culex (Culex) occurring in southwestern Asia and Egypt, with a note on the subgeneric placement of Culex deserticola (Diptera: Culicidae). Mosquito Systematics 17: 83–107. Harbach 1985
- Pecor, J.E., Mallampalli, V.L., Harbach, R.E. & Peyton, E.L. 1992. Catalog and illustrated review of the subgenus Melanoconion of Culex (Diptera: Culicidae). Contributions of the American Entomological Institute (Gainesville) 27(2): v + 1–228.
- Harbach, R.E. & Sandlant, G.R. 1997. CABIKEY Mosquito Genera of the World. Windows CD-ROM. CAB International, Wallingford, England.
- Manguin, S., Kengne, P., Sonnier, L., Harbach, R.E., Baimai, V., Trung, H.D., Coosemans, M. 2002. SCAR markers and multiplex PCR-based identification of isomorphic species in the Anopheles dirus complex in Southeast Asia. Medical and Veterinary Entomology 16: 46-54.
- White, I.M., Harbach R.E &.Sandlant, G.R. 2004. Fauna Malesiana: Interactive Key for Mosquito Vectors of Human Disease (Diptera: Culicidae). Windows CD-ROM. CAB International, Wallingford.
- Rattanarithikul, R., Harbach, R.E., Harrison, B.A., Panthusiri, P., Jones, J.W. & Coleman, R.E. 2005. Illustrated keys to the mosquitoes of Thailand II. Genera Culex and Lutzia. Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health 36 (Suppl. 2): 97 pp.
- Rattanarithikul, R., Harrison, B.A., Harbach, R.E., Panthusiri, P. & Coleman, R.E. 2006. Illustrated keys to the mosquitoes of Thailand. IV. Anopheles. Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health 37 (Suppl. 2): 128 pp.
- Walton, C., Somboon, P., O’Loughlin, S.M., Zhang, S., Harbach, R.E., Linton, Y.-M., Chen, B., Nolan, K., Duong, S., Fong, M.-Y., Vythilingam, I., Mohammed, Z.D., Ho Dinh Trung & Butlin, R.K. 2007. Genetic diversity and molecular identification of mosquito species in the Anopheles maculatus group using the ITS2 region of rDNA. Infection, Genetics and Evolution 7: 93–102.
- Walton, C., Somboon, P., Harbach, R.E., Zhang, S., Weerasinghe, I., O’Loughlin, S.M., Phompida, S., Sochantha, T., Tun-Lin, W, Chen, B. & Butlin, R.K. 2007. Molecular identification of mosquito species in the Anopheles annularis group in southern Asia. Medical and Veterinary Entomology 21: 30–35.
- Dusfour, I., Blondeau, J., Harbach, R.E., Vythilingham I., Baimai, V., Trung, H.D., Sochanta, T., Bangs, M. & Manguin, S. 2007. Polymerase chain reaction identification of three members of the Anopheles sundaicus (Diptera: Culicidae) complex, malaria vectors in Southeast Asia. Journal of Medical Entomology 44: 723–731.
- Rattanarithikul, R., Harbach, R.E., Harrison, B.A., Panthusiri, P. & Coleman, R.E. 2007. Illustrated keys to the mosquitoes of Thailand. V. Genera Orthopodomyia, Kimia, Malaya, Topomyia, Tripteroides, and Toxorhynchites. Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health 38(Suppl. 2): 65 pp.
- Rattanarithikul, R., Harbach, R.E., Harrison, B.A.,Panthusiri, P., Coleman, R.E. & Richardson, J.H. 2010. Illustrated keys to the mosquitoes of Thailand VI. Tribe Aedini. Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health 41(Suppl. 1): 225 pp.
Medical entomology
- Harbach, R.E., Gingrich, J.B. & Pang, L.W. 1987. Some entomological observations on malaria transmission in a remote village in northwestern Thailand. Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association 3: 296–301.
- Harbach, R.E., Baimai, V. & Sukowati, S. 1987. Some observations on sympatric populations of the malaria vectors Anopheles leucosphyrus and Anopheles balabacensis in a village-forest setting in South Kalimantan. Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health 18: 241–247.
- Van Bortel, W., Harbach, R.E., Trung, H.D., Roelants, P., Backeljau, T. & Coosemans, M. 2001. Confirmation of Anopheles varuna in Vietnam, previously misidentified and mistargeted as the malaria vector An. minimus. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 65: 729-732. Van Bortel et al. 2001
- Roberts D.R., Manguin, S., Rejmankova, E., Andre, R.G., Harbach, R.E., Vanzie, E., Hakre, S. & Polanco, J. 2002. Spatial distribution of adult Anopheles darlingi and Anopheles albimanus in relation to riparian habitats in Belize, Central America. Journal of Vector Ecology 27: 21-30.
- Chen, B., Harbach, R.E. & Butlin, R.K. 2002. Molecular and morphological studies on the Anopheles minimus group of mosquitoes in southern China: taxonomic review, distribution and malaria vector status. Medical and Veterinary Entomology 16: 253-265.
- Dusfour, I., Harbach, R.E. & Manguin, S. (2004) Bionomics and systematics of the Oriental Anopheles sundaicus complex in relation to malaria transmission and vector control. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 71: 518–524.
- Vanwambeke, S.O., Somboon, P., Harbach, R.E., Isenstadt, M., Lambin, E.F., Walton, C. & Butlin, R.K. 2007. Landscape and land cover factors influence the presence of Aedes and Anopheles larvae. Journal of Medical Entomology 44: 133–144.
- Vanwambeke, S.O., Lambin, E.F., Eichhorn, M.P., Flasse, S.P., Harbach, R.E., Oskam, L., Somboon, P., van Beers, S., van Benthem, B.H.B., Walton, C. & Butlin, R.K. 2007. Impact of land-use change on dengue and malaria in northern Thailand. EcoHealth 4: 37–51.
- Manguin, S., Garros, C., Dusfour, I., Harbach, R.E. & Coosemans, M. 2008. Bionomics, taxonomy, and distribution of the major malaria vector taxa of Anopheles subgenus Cellia in Southeast Asia: An updated review. Infection, Genetics and Evolution 8: 489–503.
Phylogeny and classification
- Harbach, R.E. & Kitching, I.J. 1998. Phylogeny and classification of the Culicidae (Diptera). Systematic Entomology 23: 327–370.
- Anthony, T.G., Harbach, R.E. & Kitching, I.J. 1999. Phylogeny of the Pyretophorus Series of Anopheles subgenus Cellia (Diptera: Culicidae). Systematic Entomology, 24: 193–205.
- Sharpe, R.G., Harbach, R.E. & Butlin, R.K. 2000. Molecular variation and phylogeny of the Minimus Group of Anopheles subgenus Cellia (Diptera: Culicidae). Systematic Entomology 25: 265–272.
- Garros, C., Harbach, R.E. & Manguin, S. 2005. Morphological assessment and molecular phylogenetics of the Funestus and Minimus Groups of Anopheles (Cellia). Journal of Medical Entomology 42: 522–536.
- Reinert, J.F., Harbach, R.E. & Kitching, I.J. (2004) Phylogeny and classification of Aedini (Diptera: Culicidae) based on morphological characters of all life stages. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 142: 289–368. Reinert et al. 2004
- Harbach, R.E. (2004) The classification of genus Anopheles (Diptera: Culicidae): a working hypothesis of phylogenetic relationships. Bulletin of Entomological Research 95: 537–553.
- Harbach, R.E. & Kitching, I.J. 2005. Reconsideration of anopheline phylogeny (Diptera: Culicidae: Anophelinae) based on morphological data. Systematics and Biodiversity 3: 345–374.
- Reinert, J.F., Harbach, R.E. & Kitching, I.J. 2006. Phylogeny and classification of Finlaya and allied taxa (Diptera: Culicidae: Aedini) based on morphological data from all life stages. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 148: 1–101. Reinert et al. 2006
- Harbach, R.E. 2007. The Culicidae (Diptera): a review of taxonomy, classification and phylogeny, pp. 591–688. In: Zhang, Z.-Q. & Shear, W.A. (Eds), Linnaeus Tercentenary: Progress in Invertebrate Taxonomy. Zootaxa 1668: 1–766. Harbach 2007
- Reinert, J.F., Harbach, R.E. & Kitching, I.J. 2008. Phylogeny and classification of Ochlerotatus and allied taxa (Diptera: Culicidae: Aedini) based on morphological data from all life stages. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 153: 29–114. Reinert et al. 2008
- Reinert, J.F., Harbach, R.E. & Kitching, I.J. 2009. Phylogeny and classification of tribe Aedini (Diptera: Culicidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 157: 700−794 + 2 online appendices.Reinet et al. 2009
Vector systematics
- Harbach, R.E., Townson, H., Mukwaya, L. & Adeniran, T. 1997. Use of rDNA-PCR to investigate the ecological distribtuion of Anopheles bwambae in relation to other members of the Gambiae Complex of mosquitoes in Bwmaba County, Uganda. Medical and Veterinary Entomology 11: 329–334.
- Sharpe, R.G., Hims, M.M. Harbach, R.E. & Bultin, R.K. 1999. PCR based methods for identification of species of the Anopheles minimus group: allele specific amplification and single-strand conformation polymorphism. Medical and Veterinary Entomology 13: 265–273.
- Thelwell, N.J., Huisman, R.A., Harbach, R.E. & Butlin, R.K. 2000. Evidence for mitochondrial introgression between Anopheles bwambae and Anopheles gambiae. Insect Molecular Biology 9: 203–210.
- Van Bortel, W., Trung, H.D., Roelants, P., Harbach, R.E., Backeljau, T. & Coosemans, M. 2000. Molecular identification of Anopheles minimus s.l. beyond distinguishing members of the species complex. Insect Molecular Biology 9: 335–340.
- Nguyen, D.M., Tran, D.H., Harbach, R.E., Elphick, J. & Linton, Y.-M. 2000. A new species of the Hyrcanus Group of Anopheles, subgenus Anopheles, a secondary vector of malaria in coastal areas of southern Vietnam. Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association, 16, 189-198.
- Linton,Y.-M., Harbach , R.E., Chang, M.S., Anthony, T.G. & Matusop, A. 2001. Morphological and molecular identity of Anopheles (Cellia) sundaicus (Rodenwaldt) (Diptera: Culicidae), the nominotypical member of a malaria vector species complex in Southeast Asia. Systematic Entomology 26: 357-366.
- Linton, Y.-M., Smith, L., Koliopoulos, G., Samanidou-Voyadjoglou, A., Zounos, A.K. & Harbach, R.E. 2003 Morphological and molecular characterization of Anopheles (Anopheles) maculipennis Meigen, type species of the genus and nominotypical member of the Maculipennis Complex. Systematic Entomology 28: 39–55.
- Chen, B., Butlin, R.K. & Harbach, R.E. 2003. Molecular phylogenetics of the Oriental members of the Myzomyia Series of Anopheles subgenus Cellia (Diptera: Culicidae) inferred from nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequences. Systematic Entomology 28: 57–69.
- Sedaghat, M.M., Linton, Y.-M., Nicolescu, G., Smith, L., Koliopoulos, G., Zounos, A.K., Oshaghi, M.A., Vatandoost, H. & Harbach, R.E. 2003. Morphological and molecular characterization of Anopheles (Anopheles)sacharovi Favre, a primary vector of malaria in the Middle East. Systematic Entomology 28: 241–256.
- Sedaghat, M.M., Linton, Y.M., Oshaghi, M.A., Vatandoost, H. & Harbach, R.E. 2003. The Anopheles maculipennis complex (Diptera: Culicidae) in Iran: molecular characterization and recognition of a new species. Bulletin of Entomological Research 93: 527-535.
- Dusfour, I., Linton, Y.-M., Cohuet, A., Harbach, R.E., Baimai, V., Trung, H.D., Seng, C.M., Matusop, A. & Manguin, S. 2004. Molecular evidence of speciation between island and continental populations of Anopheles (Cellia)sundaicus (Diptera: Culicidae), a principal malaria vector taxon in Southeast Asia. Journal of Medical Entomology 41: 287-295.
- Nicolescu, G., Linton, Y.-M., Vladimirescu, A., Howard, T.M. & Harbach, R.E. (2004) Mosquitoes of the Anopheles maculipennis group (Diptera: Culicidae) in Romania, with the discovery and formal recognition of a new species based on molecular and morphological evidence. Bulletin of Entomological Research 95: 525–535.
- Garros, C., Harbach, R.E. & Manguin, S. (2005) Systematics and biogeographical implications of the phylogenetic relationships between members of the Funestus and Minimus Groups of Anopheles (Diptera: Culicidae). Journal of Medical Entomology 42: 7–18.
- Chen, B., Butlin, R.K., Pedro, P.M., Wang, X.Z. & Harbach, R.E. 2006. Molecular variation, systematics and distribution of the Anopheles fluviatilis complex in southern Asia. Medical and Veterinary Entomology 20: 33–43.
- Dusfour, I., Michaux, J.R., Harbach, R.E. & Manguin, S. 2007. Speciation and phylogeography of the Southeast Asian Anopheles sundaicus complex. Infection, Genetics and Evolution 7: 484–493.