ABSTRACT. A new interpretation, based on an analysis of characters from all life stages, is proposed to explain the affinities within the Southeast Asian Anopheles hyrcanus complex. The position of each species is discussed: argyropus and sinensis are retained separately, while the nigerrimus subgroup is proposed for nigerrimus, pursati, indiensis and psuedosinensis, and the lesteri subgroup is proposed for lesteri lesteri, lesteri paraliae, crawfordi and peditaeniatus. Other Oriental Anophelines which may belong to the hyrcanus complex are also discussed.