Human Ecology of Malaria: knowledge  control
Human/Anopheles Ecology
 30-40 different species of Anopheles mosquito…all malaria hosts. Different species prefer different
habitats but generally prefer stagnant or slow moving water (e.g. still water, stagnant pools, ditches in
rural or urban environments).
 Only female mosquitos bite
 Anopheles: four stages in life cycle (egg, larva, pupa, and adult). The first three stages are aquatic and last
5-14 days, depending on the species and temperature. The adult stage is when the female Anopheles
mosquito acts as malaria vector. Adult females live only 1-2 weeks in nature.
 Larvae of Anopheles mosquitoes have been found in fresh- or salt-water marshes, mangrove swamps, rice
fields, grassy ditches, blocked irrigation canals, slow-flowing streams and rivers, and small, temporary rain
pools (including discarded cans, coconut shells, pails, containers, etc) and any other place with clean,
slow-moving water. Anopheles does not thrive or is absent from running water (rivers, streams), or larger
open water locations (lakes). All stagnant water locations in malarial zones are assumed to be malaria
breeding grounds (rural or urban).
 Anopheles mosquitoes are most active and start biting just before dawn, and through evening - peak
biting activity is at midnight and early hours of morning.
 Human populations at highest risk: children…275,000 child deaths in Africa/yr (>65% of global total)
Control Strategies?
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