Anopheles mosquito. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of an Anopheles stephensi mosquito, the vector for the malaria parasite in Asia. The m

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Anopheles mosquito. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of an Anopheles stephensi mosquito, the vector for the malaria parasite in Asia. The mosquito flies in search of a human or other animal from which it can suck blood. It lands gently on long, slender legs. The insect's head comprises two compound eyes (pink), two antennae (blue) and complex mouthparts. The proboscis (centre left), contains the piercing and sucking instruments necessary to obtain a blood meal. In 2002, scientists created genetically- modified A. stephensi mosquitoes, in which the malaria parasite was unable to multiply, raising hopes that transmission of malaria can be stopped.

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Size: 2820px × 2231px
Photo credit: © VOLKER STEGER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: animal, anopheles, antennae, blood-feeder, blood-feeding, carrier, coloured, compound, disease, entomology, eye, flight, flying, haematophagous, insect, insecta, invertebrate, invertebrates, leg, legs, malaria, mosquito, nature, parasite, parasitic, proboscis, sanguivore, sanguivorous, sem, stephensi, tropical, vector, wildlife, wing, winged, wings, zoology