anopheles

American  

[uh-nof-uh-leez] / əˈnɒf əˌliz /

noun

plural

anopheles

1. any mosquito of the genus Anopheles, certain species of which are vectors of the parasite causing malaria in humans, distinguished from other mosquitoes by the absence of breathing tubes in the larvae and by the head-downward stance of the adult while resting or feeding.

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anopheles British  

/ əˈnɒfɪˌliːz /

noun

1. any of various mosquitoes constituting the genus Anopheles, some species of which transmit the malaria parasite to man

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Other Word Forms

• anopheline
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of anopheles

1895–1900; < New Latin < Greek anōphelḗs useless, hurtful, harmful, equivalent to an- an- ¹ + -ōpheles- variant stem of óphelos profit; earlier ( a ) n- (with vowel lengthening) + opheles-, written in Mycenaean Greek as nopere

Example Sentences

It spreads to people through the bites of infected female mosquitoes called anopheles, which have also been found in Europe.

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2024

It is hoped this will significantly reduce the numbers of the malaria-carrying anopheles mosquitoes in the area.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 5, 2019

Some anopheles mosquitoes carry the malaria parasite, which they can inject into human bloodstreams when taking their meals.

From Washington Post • Oct. 18, 2010

Palace walls could not shield him from the enemy without: the anopheles mosquitoes infesting the Nile Valley with malaria parasites.

From New York Times • Feb. 21, 2010

Dr. Carroll first allowed himself to be bitten by the mosquitoes, not the anopheles but another variety known as the stegomyia.

From The Panama Canal A history and description of the enterprise by Mills, J. Saxon