Anofeles, or malaria mosquito, in Russia is represented by 10 species that live in the European part and in Western Siberia. Eastern Siberia is unsuitable for living of this genus, since too cold winters kill them.
The malaria mosquito has a long history - archaeologists have discovered two species of fossil ancestral insects. Often considered anopheles large mosquitoes, centipedes. But this is not so. The size of the malaria mosquito differs little from the usual. If you do not peer closely, then both species are almost identical. How to distinguish a malaria mosquito from an ordinary one? It has longer legs, tentacles on the head are almost equal in length to the proboscis, dark spots are present on the wings, the insect landing on the skin is perpendicular to its surface.
Like all representatives of the genus Diptera, anopheles go through 4 stages of development: egg, larva, pupa and imago. The first three pass in water bodies and last from a week to two, depending on the climatic zone and weather conditions. The subsequent life of the insect lasts an average of another couple of weeks. During this time, females have time to lay from 50 to 200 eggs, which one at a time float on the surface of the water. After 3-4 days, under favorable conditions, larvae appear from them. They actively eat, grow, and at some point discard the old skin, turning into pupae. The life of the malaria mosquito at the pupal stage is also short-lived. Its shell cracks, and an adult insect appears, completely formed and ready for independent life.
A malaria mosquito in Russia appears after wintering in April, but until the middle of the summer the number of insects is extremely small. Their greatest number is observed from July to autumn. Malaria mosquitoes are nocturnal. Their active life begins at dusk and continues until dawn. In the daytime, Anopheles avoid shined areas accessible to the winds, and keep in shaded and sheltered spaces. Most of all, living quarters are suitable for them. According to the latest WHO data, malaria mosquitoes carry about 150 viruses of various diseases, of which about fifty can affect the human body. By the way, an interesting fact: the AIDS virus does not transmit malaria mosquitoes, because the microorganism simply dies in the stomach of an insect.
Malaria mosquito in Russia is quite dangerous for humans in terms of possible infection not only with malaria, but also with other infections. Until 1917, up to 8 million cases of diseases were registered annually on the territory of our state. By the 50s in the USSR it was believed that the disease was completely defeated, but already in the 70s, cases of infection with malaria through insect bites showed themselves again. Today, the malaria mosquito in Russia lives, multiplies and moves uncontrollably. Cases of malaria in Moscow and Leningrad regions have become more frequent. Experts attribute these facts to the movements of migrants from the southern regions. Malaria is a serious illness. It is treated only in a hospital, and over the next two years it is necessary to be seen by a doctor.
