Anopheles culicifacies
Encyclopedia
Anopheles culicifacies is one of the major vectors of malaria
on the Indian subcontinent
. It has been reported to be a species complex
consisting of five sibling species
which have been provisionally designated as species A, B, C, D and E. It prefers to rest indoors in cattle sheds, where it feeds on cattle. The control of A. culicifacies has become a formidable task due to development of insecticide resistance
against all commonly used insecticide
s including new generation insecticides such as synthetic pyrethroid
s.
it has a Culex
-like sitting posture.
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
on the Indian subcontinent
Indian subcontinent
The Indian subcontinent, also Indian Subcontinent, Indo-Pak Subcontinent or South Asian Subcontinent is a region of the Asian continent on the Indian tectonic plate from the Hindu Kush or Hindu Koh, Himalayas and including the Kuen Lun and Karakoram ranges, forming a land mass which extends...
. It has been reported to be a species complex
Species complex
A species complex is a group of closely related species, where the exact demarcation between species is often unclear or cryptic owing to their recent and usually still incomplete reproductive isolation. Ring species, superspecies and cryptic species complex are example of species complex...
consisting of five sibling species
Sibling species
Sibling species are species that are very similar in appearance, in behavior and in other characteristics, but they are reproductively isolated. In other words, sibling species are pairs or groups of genetically closely related species which are often morphologically indistinguishable, but are...
which have been provisionally designated as species A, B, C, D and E. It prefers to rest indoors in cattle sheds, where it feeds on cattle. The control of A. culicifacies has become a formidable task due to development of insecticide resistance
Pesticide resistance
Pesticide resistance is the adaptation of pest population targeted by a pesticide resulting in decreased susceptibility to that chemical. In other words, pests develop a resistance to a chemical through natural selection: the most resistant organisms are the ones to survive and pass on their...
against all commonly used insecticide
Insecticide
An insecticide is a pesticide used against insects. They include ovicides and larvicides used against the eggs and larvae of insects respectively. Insecticides are used in agriculture, medicine, industry and the household. The use of insecticides is believed to be one of the major factors behind...
s including new generation insecticides such as synthetic pyrethroid
Pyrethroid
A pyrethroid is an organic compound similar to the natural pyrethrins produced by the flowers of pyrethrums . Pyrethroids now constitute a major commercial household insecticides...
s.
it has a Culex
Culex
Culex is a genus of mosquito, and is important in that several species serve as vectors of important diseases, such as West Nile virus, filariasis, Japanese encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis and avian malaria....
-like sitting posture.