Scientists believe that mosquitoes lived in Cretaceous period, while they were distributed throughout the entire earth, except Antarctica.

There are about 3 thousand species of mosquitoes, which are divided into 39 genera. Within the family, there are non-malarial, malarial mosquitoes and toxorhynchites, which belong to non-blood-sucking insects.

Malaria is one of the most common diseases, killing about a million people every year.

Habitats of malaria mosquitoes

Malaria mosquitoes, like other mosquitoes, live on almost all continents, with the exception of Antarctica; they are not found in the Far North. The northernmost point of the range of malaria mosquitoes is the south of Karelia.

For the most part, malaria affects residents of the tropics in Africa, South America, Central America and Asia, as well as islands that are located near the equator.

On the territory of our country, malaria mosquitoes are found in Western Siberia and the European part of Russia. In Eastern Siberia they are absent due to the climate being too harsh, since malaria mosquitoes are not able to carry frosty winters.
Malaria mosquitoes need water to live, since females lay eggs in water bodies, and mosquito larvae develop there.

Appearance of a malaria mosquito and its difference from a regular mosquito

In appearance, these blood-sucking insects are very similar, but there are some signs that can be used to distinguish a malaria mosquito from an ordinary one:

• Malaria mosquitoes have dark spots on their wings, while most other mosquito species do not have such spots;
• Malaria mosquitoes have longer limbs, especially the hind ones;
• When the malaria mosquito sits, it strongly raises the back of its body, while the body of a normal mosquito is almost parallel to the surface on which it sits;
• In malaria mosquitoes, the segmented tentacles on the head are approximately the same size as the proboscis, and in ordinary mosquitoes they are no more than ¼ of the length of the proboscis;
• In addition, a feature of malaria mosquitoes is their “dance” - before landing on the victim’s skin, they seem to dance in the air.

Are all malaria mosquitoes dangerous?

When young mosquitoes are born, they begin to swarm and mate. Malaria mosquitoes, like regular mosquitoes, are vegetarians, meaning they do not drink blood and feed only on plant sap and nectar. And after fertilization, females need protein in order for the eggs to develop well, so the blood-sucking instinct awakens in them.

Listen to the voice of a malaria mosquito

A hungry female mosquito has a very strong sense of smell and can detect a warm-blooded creature, including a human, at a distance of about 3 kilometers. In one bite, she can drink more blood than she weighs. After the female gets drunk, 150-200 eggs begin to develop in her body. Females lay eggs in a pond.

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Many people have been afraid of malaria mosquitoes since childhood, knowing that they are carriers of the pathogen. dangerous disease– malaria. These concerns are not without merit. Find out in detail how the mosquito of the genus Anopheles differs from others safe species such insects - this information will help prevent serious risks to your health.

What does a malaria mosquito look like?

Insects classified as belonging to this species are often called anopheles by biologists (short for Latin name Anopheles maculipennis). These dipterans are not much different in appearance from ordinary mosquitoes. Anopheles has a small body (6-10 mm), a small head and long legs. These insects have dark spots on their transparent scaly wings, which is not the case with ordinary mosquitoes. Their jaw system consists of a lower lip (with the help of saw-like jaws on it, Anopheles cuts through the skin) and a proboscis (the mosquito pushes it into the slot and sucks blood).

Where does it live?

These insects, which are a source of deadly infection for humans, are distributed almost throughout the world. The geography of the regions where the anopheles mosquito lives includes all areas where there are no severe winters (prolonged cold weather interrupts the development cycle of anopheles). In the world, these carriers of infection are very widespread in areas with hot climates.

Thus, on islands close to the equator, in the countries of Africa, Central and South America, and South-East Asia About a million people die every year due to malaria through the bites of Anopheles mosquitoes. In Russia, although these insects are found in the European part of the country and in Western Siberia, here they are not so dangerous. In this area the temperature environment does not contribute to their rapid reproduction, and in this area there are no carriers of malarial origin.

How is it different from normal

Insect carriers of the infectious agent have some structural features of their bodies. A very noticeable difference between the malaria mosquito and the ordinary one is that it has long hind legs. This characteristic external sign You can clearly see the insect in the photo. Due to this structural feature, the rear part of the body of a sessile anopheles is always at a large angle to the surface, and the body of an ordinary mosquito is always located parallel to the surface on which it is located.

Another important difference is observed in the structure of females. The jointed tentacles located on the head of the female Anopheles are almost equal in length to the proboscis. In ordinary mosquitoes, such tentacles are noticeably shorter - no longer than ¼ of the proboscis. These two types of insects can also be distinguished by dark spots on the wings, which are present in malaria carriers and are absent in ordinary individuals. Another striking feature of anopheles is that they do not immediately sit on the victim’s skin, but before attacking they seem to dance in the air.

Types of malaria mosquitoes

In practice, this type of mosquito includes all dipterans from the genus Anopheles, of which there are more than 460 species in the world today. It is important to know that only about 100 species of these insects can actually transmit malaria. IN different regions pose an epidemiological danger different types Anopheles. Interesting fact: many people believe that the centipede mosquito, an insect distinguished by its large sizes. The facts suggest that such dipterans are harmless, because their food is nectar, or they may not eat at all.

Why is it dangerous?

Only female Anopheles species pose a threat to human health. Male mosquitoes live only a few days and feed only on plant juices. Females of these insects can live up to two months. They also feed on plant foods, but during the breeding season they need animal blood as a source of protein to form their eggs. Having received such food, the female processes it for about two days and again looks for a new victim of attack.

Mosquito and Plasmodium falciparum

What happens if you are bitten by a malaria mosquito?

You need to know that the bites of such insects do not in all cases pose a real danger. Infection will only occur if a female malaria mosquito has previously bitten a person with malaria. Only after contact with blood, in which plasmodia already live, does the insect become infectious. The ability to infect malaria will also not be passed on to the offspring of this female.

Scheme of transmission of the malaria pathogen to humans

What does a bite look like?

Based on the appearance of the skin, it is difficult to determine which insect bit a person - an ordinary mosquito or an anopheles. The bite of a malaria mosquito also itches, and the skin may appear red and slightly swollen. Often, the patient learns that an infection with malarial plasmodium has occurred after the end of the incubation period. He begins to show characteristic severe symptoms of the disease: chills, fever, headaches, rapid pulse and even convulsions.

How to protect yourself from the malaria mosquito

What precautions should be taken to prevent the risk of contracting a serious illness? Due to the fact that Anopheles lays eggs in water bodies and here in the summer new insects emerge from the larvae, a high risk of being bitten occurs, for example, while relaxing near the water. To prevent infection when staying outdoors, it is recommended to use different mosquito repellents. Thus, repellents will repel dipterans well, and mosquito nets will keep out not only large insects (such as the long-legged mosquito or anopheles mosquito), but also other midges from entering the tent.

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Attention! The information presented in the article is for informational purposes only. The materials in the article do not encourage self-treatment. Only a qualified doctor can make a diagnosis and make treatment recommendations based on individual characteristics specific patient.

According to statistics, about 500 million cases of malaria occur annually in the world, up to 1% of which are fatal. About 90% of these cases occur in southern Africa. Malaria is an infectious disease that can be contracted by a person through the bite of an anomaly-carrying mosquito. This is a separate type of insect that can be found almost everywhere.

Article structure

How to distinguish an anomaly mosquito from a regular one?

In terms of body structure, the malaria mosquito is no different from an ordinary mosquito: it also has a head, a long thin abdomen, wings and legs attached to thoracic region. But, nevertheless, it has features by which it is possible to potentially distinguish dangerous insect from an ordinary bloodsucker:

• By observing what a malaria mosquito looks like when it bites, it was found that its body is at a more acute angle to the plane of the victim's body than in the case of a regular mosquito. The back legs of the malaria mosquito are longer than the front ones, so it is forced to bend down more in order to reach its victim with its stinger. Thus, the malaria mosquito bites in a position with its butt in the air.
• Ordinary mosquitoes come in different colors: yellow, brown, gray. Less common are species whose color is greenish or black. Regarding the malaria mosquito, it is known that its wings are dotted with dark spots, which are not characteristic of most ordinary mosquitoes.
• The oral apparatus of blood-sucking mosquitoes is modified - they have an elongated proboscis, which contains needle-like teeth. In addition to the proboscis, on the head of mosquitoes there are tentacles-antennae, the length of which correlates with the length of the proboscis in the case of the malaria mosquito, and is much shorter in ordinary mosquitoes.
• The following feature of the behavior of malaria mosquitoes is noted: when preparing to attack a victim, they perform characteristic movements in the air that imitate a dance. And only after that they land on the skin of an animal or person.

Where do malaria mosquitoes live?

Malaria mosquitoes live almost anywhere there are humans and other suitable prey. But the peculiarities of development and life activity do not allow them to survive in too low temperatures. In addition, the malaria mosquito cannot survive for long away from open water. They lay eggs in water, preferring heavily overgrown ponds, which allow the larvae to attach to blades of grass, duckweed, reeds and other plants submerged in water.

The malaria mosquito is often confused with another long-legged inhabitant of water bodies - the centipede mosquito. But he is completely safe, eats only plant foods.

But, if moldy swampy ponds are more suitable for an ordinary mosquito, the development of malaria mosquito larvae occurs only in an alkaline or neutral environment. There are also requirements for temperature conditions: the malaria mosquito reproduces most quickly at temperatures from +20 to +30 degrees, the value varies for its different subspecies. Although, it can survive and reproduce at both lower and higher high temperatures. At the same time, the rate of development of larvae becomes slower and the process of population multiplication slows down.

Distribution of malaria mosquitoes on Earth

Malaria mosquitoes are found in:

• Africa
• Europe
• Australia
• North America
• South America

Life cycle features

After mating, the female malaria mosquito lays eggs in a suitable body of water, from which a few days later, under a successful combination of circumstances, the larvae hatch. The number of eggs laid depends on the type of mosquito, up to several hundred. The larvae develop in water, hiding in algae and feeding on plankton. Periodically, the shell of the larva cracks, sheds, and a new one grows. Thus, the insect increases in size, reaching the state adult approximately a month after the female lays eggs.

At the imago stage, the insect almost immediately becomes sexually mature and needs to mate and procreate. Male mosquitoes swarm over water bodies and buzz loudly, thereby attracting females. The lifespan of a male malaria mosquito is about two days. The female, in turn, lives much longer and can mate and lay eggs many times.

How dangerous are malaria mosquitoes to humans?

Only the female malaria mosquito poses an immediate danger to humans. For successful reproduction of offspring, her body must receive special proteins that are found only in the blood of mammals, in particular human blood. The males of all currently known species of mosquitoes are herbivorous insects; their diet consists of pollen and flower nectar, as well as plant juices. Therefore, the only way male malaria mosquitoes can harm humans is their annoying buzzing.

The need for blood sucking occurs in the female malaria mosquito 48 hours after mating.

For the life and development of the clutch at the initial stage after fertilization, the female malaria mosquito only needs plant food. Further, the female has an instinctive need to suck blood to obtain the required portion of protein. The amount of blood absorbed by an insect at one time can be twice its weight. Obeying instinct, the female malaria mosquito is able to smell and subsequently find the victim by smell, staying at a distance of 3 kilometers.

Malarial plasmodium in the human body

Infection of a person with malarial plasmodium has irreversible consequences for the liver, extremely negatively affecting the blood vessels, blood, and brain.

In addition to malaria, the malaria mosquito can carry other dangerous infectious diseases: Escherichia coli, anthrax. There are malaria vaccinations recommended for people who would be at risk of being bitten by a malaria mosquito.

Since the consequences of a malaria mosquito bite are unpredictable, it is better to worry about preventing it in advance.

The following measures should be taken:

• In places where there is a possibility of mosquito breeding, it is worth covering the exposed parts of the body with a special mesh, or at least gauze treated with repellents.
• You can go to bed only after thoroughly checking the room for the presence of mosquitoes, since they are characterized by nocturnal activity - sleeping people and animals are most susceptible to bites.
• Windows and doors must be protected from insects with a special mosquito net, also treated. Special insecticides have been developed to repel malaria mosquitoes from the treated area for up to 6 months after spraying the substance.

Malaria mosquito or Anopheles is one of the insects potentially dangerous to human health, since it can be a carrier of malaria and other diseases. Despite this, many people do not even know what a malaria mosquito looks like and cannot distinguish it from ordinary mosquitoes. In this article we will look at the main features of the appearance and life of malaria mosquitoes, and also find out why a malaria mosquito is dangerous to humans?

How does a malaria mosquito differ from a regular mosquito?

Externally, malaria mosquitoes are very similar to ordinary mosquitoes, so not everyone can distinguish them. However, if you look closely, you can find several signs that will help you accurately identify Anopheles. Here are the main differences between a malaria mosquito and a regular one:

• It is approximately twice the size of a normal mosquito.
• The malaria mosquito has longer hind legs compared to the common one.
• On the head of females of both species there are segmented tentacles, but in ordinary mosquitoes they are short - about a quarter of the length of the proboscis, but in malarial mosquitoes the tentacles are the same length as the proboscis.
• Dark spots can be seen on the wings of Anopheles.
• An important feature is the position of the sitting mosquito. An ordinary mosquito holds its body almost parallel to the surface, but the malarial mosquito lifts its back part at a large angle.

You can see what a malaria mosquito looks like in this photo:

The following photo will clearly demonstrate the differences between the malaria mosquito and the common mosquito:

Habitats and danger of malaria mosquitoes

Malaria mosquitoes can be found in almost all corners of the globe; they do not live only in Antarctica and the desert regions of the Far North. Most common in tropical regions. Malaria mosquitoes love moisture, which, in fact, is necessary for them to reproduce. Most often they are found near ponds and swamps.

Are mosquitoes dangerous? Malaria mosquitoes pose a great danger to the population of our planet; about 1 million people still die from malaria every year. But even in those countries where this disease is considered defeated, this type of mosquito should not be written off. In addition to malaria, they can be carriers of about 50 more viruses.

However, it is malaria that poses the greatest danger among all the diseases carried by Anopheles. Then the question arises: how dangerous is the malaria mosquito in Russia, where malaria has been defeated? The fact is that isolated cases of malaria can still be found in our country: it can be brought here by tourists who became infected in tropical countries or by migrants. So, while our country has a method of transmitting this disease, it cannot be said that it poses no danger at all.

Malaria mosquito: development cycle

As we have already written, reservoirs are necessary for the reproduction of Anopheles. It is in the water that they lay their eggs, from which the larvae subsequently emerge. They also remain in the water for some time until they develop into adult insects.

Interesting! Malaria mosquitoes are very “picky” in choosing water bodies for breeding. They do not like reservoirs that are heavily overgrown with duckweed or reeds, and they also do not live in acidic water.

Malaria mosquito eggs can only be found in clean water with accumulations of filamentous algae, in which larvae can subsequently hide. The larva usually develops in 1-4 weeks, depending on water temperature.

The malaria mosquito larva feeds and develops. After some time, a new phase begins and a malaria mosquito pupa is formed, which very soon turns into an adult - an adult, ready for reproduction.

Interesting! Very often, malaria mosquitoes are confused with centipede mosquitoes, the largest species on the planet. Although they are completely different. Centipedes are not only significantly larger than malaria mosquitoes, but they are also vegetarian and pose no danger to humans.

How long does a malaria mosquito live? The life of a female can last about two months, and the life of a male is usually half as long as this. The lifespan of mosquitoes is greatly influenced by environmental conditions, especially temperature. The most optimal temperature for their life is 10-15 degrees, in which case the female malaria mosquito can live more than 100 days. At a temperature of 25 degrees, this period is reduced to only 40 days.

What does the malaria mosquito eat?

Not everyone knows that only female malaria mosquitoes are bloodsuckers, while the males are true vegetarians. They drink blood for a reason; they need it to breed offspring, since it is from the blood that they obtain the necessary protein.

Thirst for blood occurs in females after fertilization, while males feed on plant sap and nectar throughout their lives.

Within 48 hours after laying eggs - the female is a “safe” insect, she also feeds on juice, but then everything repeats again - fertilization occurs and she again begins to look for prey.

It is important to understand the fact that not all malaria mosquitoes are carriers of diseases; initially, they are not at all dangerous. Transmission of the virus is only possible if the mosquito has previously bitten an infected person.

Before you think about traveling to warmer climates, you need to take care of your own safety. After all, it is unknown what flying disease carriers will come across a tourist’s path. One of these unpleasant neighbors is the malaria mosquito.

Characteristics of the malaria mosquito

The malaria mosquito (Anopheles) got its name for a reason, because it functions as a carrier of the insidious virus - malaria. Approximately one million people die from this disease every year. Therefore, you need to know the main villain by sight.

Anopheles (from Latin: useless, harmful) belongs to the genus of dipterous insects. Most insects of this genus are carriers of malarial plasmodia. The mosquito itself is not dangerous; it becomes a carrier only after it bites the source of infection.

Differences between malarial and common mosquitoes

The malaria mosquito is not much different from the ordinary one, but there are some differences in appearance and in behavior.

Here are some of them:

Anopheles has the same painful bites as the squeaking mosquito, because the anesthetic substance found in their proboscis is the same.

Habitat

The malaria mosquito can be found on every continent except the harsh Antarctica. They do not live in the far north and desert areas. It is incorrect to say that this type of mosquito can only be found in humid regions of Africa and Asia. Malaria mosquitoes also live in those countries where for a long time There are no foci of malaria infection. For example: USA, Japan, China, Russia and European countries.

The current level of healthcare in these countries plays a big role in eliminating the malaria virus. Also, countries located closer to the north are absolutely safe, since they do not have favorable conditions for the development of the virus pathogen inside the malaria mosquito.

Interesting! Today, dipterologists have identified more than four hundred species of malaria mosquitoes around the world.

Developmental cycle and lifespan of the malaria mosquito

Malaria mosquitoes, like other flying and blood-sucking insects, lay their eggs for reproduction in bodies of water. But the conditions for them must be special.

A prerequisite when choosing a reservoir is a slightly alkaline, or better neutral, reaction of the water.

Also, female malaria mosquitoes do not accept water bodies that are too overgrown with reeds or densely covered with duckweed for laying eggs. The ideal testing ground for laying eggs, according to females, is a lake or pond with clear water and with the presence of filamentous algae. The latter are needed so that after the formation of the larvae, they can hide behind these algae.

Depending on the water temperature, larval development can take from one to four weeks. After this period has passed, the time comes for the formation of pupae. And she, in turn, is quite short term, develops into an adult.

The lifespan of adult malaria mosquitoes is divided by gender. So females live twice as long as males - about two months. But the lifespan is also influenced by factors such as temperature and environmental conditions. At a temperature of 10-15 degrees, the lifespan of a malarial female can increase to 3.5 months. But an increase in degrees of mercury to 25 reduces the life period to almost 40 days.

What does a malaria mosquito eat?

The male malaria mosquito is a vegetarian. Throughout its short life path it consumes only plant juice and nectar as food. But the female mosquito is a real predator. But she needs this during fertilization, since blood is the main source of protein for future offspring. During the mating period, the female's sense of smell becomes more acute. She can smell any warm-blooded creature, be it a person or an animal, at a distance of up to several kilometers.

After the female has quenched her thirst for blood, eggs begin to form in her body. Their number varies from 100 to 200 pieces. Thanks to the blood drained from the victim, all the components necessary for growth and development enter the eggs. After laying eggs in a pond, the female also becomes a vegetarian for 48 hours, feeding on juice and nectar. At the same time, aggression and thirst for blood are completely absent from her behavior. However, fertilization of the female occurs every two days, so her diet is constantly changing.

Consequences of a malaria mosquito bite

Anopheles can choose any warm-blooded animal as a victim to quench its thirst. Its thin and sharp proboscis can penetrate even the thickest skin. The malaria mosquito does not neglect human bites.

The bite of a malaria mosquito is no different from the bite of a regular mosquito. Only there is a significant difference in the form of the malaria virus, which an adult female malaria mosquito can infect its victim.

Interestingly, the malaria mosquito is not a malaria carrier at birth. And this virus is not transmitted from an infected female to fertilized eggs.

A bite can cause:

• Irritation;
• Slight swelling;
• Redness of the skin.

Due to substances found in saliva, which the mosquito releases under the skin when biting. It is difficult to visually determine whether a mosquito infected with malaria has bitten you or not. Therefore, you should know the first symptoms of malaria, which will help you quickly take action to avoid dire consequences.

Disease spread by malaria mosquito

The main manifestations of malaria infection are:

• Severe chills turning into fever;
• Rapid increase in body temperature;
• Symptoms of anemia;
• Allergic reaction;
• Strong headache;
• Excessive sweating;
• Nausea and vomiting;
• Presence of blood clots in the urine;
• Increased size of the liver and spleen.

An accurate diagnosis can be easily made in the laboratory by examining two types of blood smears. Thanks to these tests, it is possible to accurately determine the level of infection and the stage of development of plasmodium in the human body.

The first symptoms of infection appear on the seventh day after the bite. The very first is fever. This sign should never be ignored. It’s better to protect yourself and get tested so as not to make things worse. It is not uncommon for people infected with malaria to die.

The most vulnerable to the disease are:

1. Children under 5 years old. Children's the immune system at this age it is still poorly developed. Therefore, such a strong pathogen as malarial plasmodia can cause great harm to an organism that has not yet matured. The likelihood of a child dying from a malaria mosquito bite is very high.
2. Pregnant women. A woman's body interesting position very susceptible to various types diseases. This is especially true when bitten by an infected malaria mosquito. And the consequences can be extremely sad, including premature birth and even fetal death.

As the popular proverb says, “forewarned is forearmed.” Therefore, before you go on a trip to the hot regions of Africa or Asia, you need to know a number of preventive measures for your own safety.

Prevention of malaria

First of all, before traveling to a country with a probable risk of malaria infection, you should acquire a special medicine. These medications include: Chloroquine, Metakelfin, Fansidar, etc.

You should start drinking one of them a week before your trip and throughout your vacation. These measures minimize the risk of complications of the disease if bitten.

There is also a large number of all kinds of repellents:

• Anti-mosquito coils;
• Fumigators that emit gases that are poisonous to mosquitoes;
• Sprays;
• Lotions;
• Emulsions.

When walking, you should not forget about closed clothes made of thick fabric. And in order to reduce the entry of malaria mosquitoes into your home, be sure to install mosquito nets on windows and doors.

Knowing simple rules prevention of malaria and the main characteristics of malaria mosquitoes, you can safely go on a trip without fear of own health and the health of your loved ones.