Studies of sibling species, bionomics, distribution, role in malaria transmission, and identification of anopheline vector are significantly important from malaria control point of view. Control of malaria depends on certain aspects such as, response to insecticides, vectorial competence, host preference and resting behaviour. So vector bionomics have been a major area of research over many years. An. minimus was identified as a vector of malaria in east central region of Odisha. Keonjhar district of Odisha State, India is afflicted with high incidence of malaria since many decades. The present study was carried out for bionomics and diversity pattern of malaria mosquito Anopheles minimus in Keonjhar district of Odisha. An. minimus were collected from different ecotopes of Keonjhar district with hand catch method from both indoor and out door resting habitats, identified morphologically and members of the Anopheles minimus species complex was further identified at molecular form by polymer chain reaction assay (PCR). Plasmodium falciparum infection was determined following the dissection of the ovaries. Immatures were also collected from nearest breeding habitat such as perennial stream, well, pond and rice field. Stream is the most preferable breeding habitat of this species followed by pond, well and paddy field. The indoor per man hour density (PMDI) of An. minimus was found to be 6.09. The man hour density was found to increase from summer (March to June) to rainy (July to October). The peak prevalence of this species was noticed during the month of August. The adult specimens prefer to rest inside the room after blood feeding. The species is highly anthropophilic, with an overall human blood index (HBI) of 0.91.

Keywords: Bionomics; Anopheles minimus; Keonjhar; Sibling Species.