Anopheles

/əˈnɒfəliːz/ noun

Definition

A genus of mosquitoes responsible for transmitting malaria parasites; any mosquito belonging to this genus that can carry and spread malaria to humans.

Etymology

Genus name from Greek 'an-' (without) + 'opheles' (useful). Established as scientific taxonomy in the 19th century when researchers identified this genus as the malaria vector.

Kelly Says

Female anopheles mosquitoes kill far more people than males—only females bite because they need blood protein to develop eggs, yet they're barely visible, harder to track than most animals we spend billions controlling.

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