• Question: Do all types of mosquito's carry malaria?

    Asked by carysjonesds to Julian on 17 Mar 2011.
    • Photo: Julian Rayner

      Julian Rayner answered on 17 Mar 2011:

      Hi Cary. No, only Anopheles mosquitoes carry malaria parasites – they look a little dappled, and only come out in the evening. There are many many different Anopheles mosquitoes, including some here in the UK, and different ones are better at carrying malaria than others. The most effective one is Anopheles gambiae, which is found in Africa, and is very anthropophilic (ie. it likes to feed on humans!).

      Now why do only Anopheles mosquitoes carry malaria? Noone knows!

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