Mass murderer The main vehicle of the deadliest malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, these mosquitoes contribute to the death of more than a million people a year. Distribution: Tropical Africa. Breeding habitat: Shallow pools and puddles--often in hoofprints and tire ruts--near human dwellings. Feeding: Bites humans almost exclusively; has an apparent penchant for smelly feet. Diseases: Also transmits the O'nyong-nyong virus and worms that cause lymphatic filariasis, a disfiguring and incapacitating disease. |
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