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At the close of 1995, a total of 425 formally named species and 36 unnamed members of species complexes were recognized as distinct morphological and/or biological species of the genus. These species are divided among six subgenera, Anopheles (182 species), Cellia (227), Nyssorhynchus (30), Kerteszia (11), Lophopodomyia (6) and Stethomyia (5), and the three largest subgenera are further divided into Sections, Series, and Groups.

Distribution
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d‘Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djbouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, French Guyana, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Libya, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mariana Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldovia, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Neth. Antilles, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, SierraLeone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Island, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Distribution map

Synonyms

None

Important References >> 		habitus image Representative species shown here:
Anopheles gambiae

Genus-specific Diagnostic Characters, Adult Stage:
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1. Scutellum evenly rounded, with scutellar setae evenly distributed,
2. Proboscis not or only slightly tapered, tip may be slightly swollen.
3. Veins M1+2 and M3+4 not wavy, but if so, then wing scales both light and dark,

Recommended characters:
4. Base of hindcoxa distinctly ventral to base of mesomeron,
5. Lower mesepimeral setae absent,
6. Postspiracular setae absent.

Bionomics
Anopheles larvae are adapted to a variety of aquatic habitats, but occur predominantly in ground waters. (more...)

Genus-specific Diagnostic Characters, Larval Stage >>

Medical Importance
Mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles are the sole vectors of human malarial parasites. Some species are effective vectors of microfilariae and some may be involved in the transmission of encephalitis viruses. Anopheles are vectors of numerous animal pathogens, including species of malaria protozoa which do not affect humans. (more...)