Malaria mosquito, Anopheles

Malaria mosquito, Anopheles

Anopheles

Insect with chitinous carapace
Flying, biting, sucking
Parasite, disease vector

Hygiene and health pest

Malaria, transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes, is a life-threatening disease that is widespread in many tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia and Latin America. About half of the world’s population lives in malaria risk areas and more than 125 million tourists visit these areas every year.

Transmission of diseases

Malaria is one of the most important infectious diseases in subtropical and tropical regions. It is transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles and is caused by single-celled pathogens of the genus Plasmodium, which attack red blood cells (erythrocytes) in the human body.
The infectious form of the malaria pathogen, the so-called sporozoite, enters the human bloodstream via the saliva of an infected Anopheles mosquito when it bites. The malaria pathogen first attacks the liver, then to a large extent the red blood cells (erythrocytes).
Not all mosquitoes can transmit malaria pathogens, only certain Anopheles species can. Females need blood to develop their eggs, only they feed on human blood, so only they are dangerous.
Although the Anopheles mosquito is now widespread on all continents, malaria infections mainly occur in Asia, Africa and South and Central America, in over 100 countries permanently.

MORE DATA

Size: 6mm
Weight: Variable
Age: 5 to14 days
Appearance: Entire, evenly round dorsal shield (scutellum)
Food: Blood and nectar
Sexual dimorphism: Yes
Feeding type: ♀ Blood eater (haematophagous), ♂ plant sap sucker
Distribution: Worldwide, approx. 420 species, approx. 40 species can transmit malaria
Original location: Africa and Asia
Sleep-wake rhythm: Nocturnal
Habitat: Unspecific
Natural enemies: Predatory insects
Mating season: Depending on location
Egg laying: 50 to 200 eggs
Threatened with extinction: No

The lifespan of Anopheles mosquitoes is not long; in their short lifespan they can lay hundreds to thousands of eggs, depending on the species. For this, they mainly need stagnant water.
Anopheles larvae like to develop in small, tannin-rich stagnant waters in the knotholes of old trees or in the branch forks of trunks.
Anopheles mosquitoes are nocturnal (from about 17:00 to 9:00 in the morning) During this time, the use of an effective mosquito repellent is highly recommended.
Mosquitoes track their hosts mainly through the air they breathe. Experts have found that people with increased carbon dioxide exhalations are bitten more often. For example, people who eat a lot of rice exhale more carbon dioxide. The smell of sweat also strongly attracts mosquitoes.