Female Anopheles are the only species of mosquitoes known to spread malaria. There are about 430 species, 30 to 40 of which are able to transmit the parasite responsible for malaria. Male Anopheles mosquitoes live for about a week; the females can survive up to a month, but most usually do not live longer than one to two weeks.
An Introduction to Anopheles
Anopheles is the only species of mosquito known to transmit
malaria. They are found worldwide except in Antarctica.
There are about 430
Anopheles species, of which 30 to 40 are able to transmit malaria.
Malaria transmission occurs by different
Anopheles species, depending on the region and the environment. However, only female
Anopheles can transmit malaria.
Like all
mosquitoes, the
Anopheles species goes through four stages in its life cycle:
The first three stages occur in water, and last 5 to 14 days, depending on the Anopheles species and the air temperature. In tropical conditions, the first three stages tend to be longer, usually 10 to 14 days.
The adult female Anopheles mosquito can live up to a month, but typically does not live more than one to two weeks. The adult stage is when the female Anopheles mosquito acts as malaria vector.
Eggs
Adult Anopheles females lay about 50 to 200 eggs. Eggs are laid directly on water and are unique in having floats on either side. Anopheles eggs are not resistant to drying, and hatch within two to three days, although hatching may take up to two to three weeks in colder climates.
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