Introducing Malaria
The Mosquito - Quick Facts - Africa - Children - Prevention & Treatment

THE MOSQUITO

There are many kinds of mosquitoes that transmit pathogens that cause disease in humans. The Culex pipien or the "northern house" mosquito transmits the pathogens that cause yellow fever in humans. Some other species like the Aedes Albopictus, or more commonly known as the "Asian tiger" mosquito, also can transmit yellow fever and dengue fever. Only the Anopheles mosquito can transmit malaria.

Female mosquitoes lay their eggs in still water. The female bunches the eggs together into a raft. Other mosquitoes lay their eggs singly. The Anopheles mosquito's eggs have air chambers to keep them afloat. Female mosquitoes can lay up to four hundred eggs if the mosquito has had a blood meal. A blood meal occurs when the mosquito bites and sucks the blood from the mammal's system.

Mosquitoes find their victims by following the trail of carbon dioxide that is exhaled. Only the females can penetrate the skin of a person. "The male doesn't have a strong proboscis because it has a less complex apparatus and is not able to pierce the skin".

The eggs will hatch in about 24-72 hours depending on temperature of the water." When they hatch, out comes the larva from the egg. The larva eats algae and food from the water. "They have mouth brushes to filter the water and collect algae in their mouth to eat." As the larva grows, it will eventually shed its skin and larger skin forms on it. "As the larva approaches its moult, it begins developing the body of a pupa. Different features occur while changing to a pupa.

The head and thorax rest on the surface of the water as the body of an adult begins to form, when the mosquito is in its pupal stage. Males usually hatch out of their pupa form before females. The usual position to hatch out of the pupa is parallel to the surface.

The Anopheles mosquito likes tropical or subtropical areas best for breeding. They prefer lakes or swamps for laying their eggs. This is why malaria is more common in Africa.

Malaria originally started in central Africa and spread to Rome where populations were destroyed in the cities. Then in 1896, an American Army physician found out about mosquitoes that carried diseases and how to eliminate them.