Malaria
Prevalence: Extremely rare in US
Risk 1/5
Western Malaria Mosquito
Anopheles freeborni · “The Western Anopheles”
Medium brown mosquito with spotted wings. Found in western US. Historically important malaria vector but now very rare.
Disease risks
How to identify
- Size
- 7-9mm (medium to large)
- Color
- Brown with spotted wings
- Distinctive features
- Spotted wings; long palps in males
- Resting posture
- Head-down posture at sharp angle
- Prefers
- Humans and mammals
- Pain level
- Moderate
- Persistence
- Moderate
- Transmission
- Historically important malaria vector; now extremely rare in US
What actually works
Habitat Elimination (Source Control)
Removal and treatment of breeding sites. Professional inspection identifies and eliminates standing water where mosquitoes lay eggs.
Cities where Western Malaria Mosquito is active
Los Angeles, CaliforniaSan Diego, CaliforniaSan Jose, CaliforniaSan Francisco, CaliforniaFresno, CaliforniaSacramento, CaliforniaLong Beach, CaliforniaOakland, CaliforniaBakersfield, CaliforniaAnaheim, CaliforniaStockton, CaliforniaRiverside, CaliforniaSanta Ana, CaliforniaIrvine, CaliforniaChula Vista, CaliforniaSan Bernardino, CaliforniaFremont, CaliforniaModesto, California
Fun fact
Anopheles freeborni was once a major malaria vector in California but mosquito control programs have reduced populations dramatically since the 1950s.