Home/Species/Anopheles funestus

Anopheles funestus

African long-lived malaria mosquito
Vector Risk: High
Genus: Anopheles

Anopheles funestus is the second most important malaria vector in Sub-Saharan Africa, after An. gambiae. Unlike the puddle-breeding gambiae, funestus prefers semi-permanent water bodies with vegetation — marshes, swamp edges, and irrigation channels. This gives it a longer seasonal transmission window and makes it particularly important during dry-season residual transmission.

It is a highly anthropophilic night biter that enters houses and rests indoors. Its long adult lifespan (often 2–3 weeks) increases the probability that a given mosquito will live long enough to pick up malaria parasites, incubate them, and transmit to a second person — making it a disproportionately effective vector.

Insecticide resistance is a growing concern across the funestus range, complicating net-based control.

Anopheles funestus — photograph
Photo: James Gathany / Frank Collins (CDC / University of Notre Dame) · CC0 1.0 · 2005 · via Wikimedia Commons

Biting behaviour

Night-biting, active throughout the night. Strongly human-biting. Rests indoors in houses during the day.

Habitat

Semi-permanent vegetated water bodies — marshes, swamp edges, irrigation channels, stream fringes with aquatic vegetation.

Diseases transmitted

MalariaLymphatic filariasis

How to identify

Slender, dark-brown body with pale-tipped wing scalesAnopheles 45-degree resting postureLong adult lifespan (2–3 weeks is common)Persistent indoor biter throughout the nightOften rests inside houses during the day

Where found

Sub-Saharan Africa, with highest impact in East, Central, and Southern Africa.

Precautions

WHO recommends insecticide-treated bed nets (with appropriate insecticide given local resistance)
WHO recommends indoor residual spraying as complementary control
CDC recommends antimalarial chemoprophylaxis for travellers
CDC advises well-screened accommodation
WHO recommends long-sleeved clothing from dusk
WHO flags insecticide resistance monitoring as critical in funestus-dominated areas
WHO — Malaria vectorsCDC — Anopheles Mosquitoes

Countries where Anopheles funestus is relevant

This species transmits diseases recorded in 85 countries in our database. Click any country for its full Mozzwise briefing.

AngolaBangladeshBelizeBeninBhutanBoliviaBotswanaBrazilBurkina FasoCambodiaCameroonCentral African RepublicChadColombiaComorosCosta RicaDjiboutiDominican RepublicDR CongoEcuadorEl SalvadorEritreaEswatiniEthiopiaFijiGabonGambiaGhanaGuatemalaGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHondurasIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIvory CoastKenyaLaosLiberiaMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaliMexicoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNepalNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNorth KoreaPakistanPanamaPapua New GuineaPeruPhilippinesRepublic of CongoRwandaSamoaSaudi ArabiaSenegalSierra LeoneSomaliaSouth KoreaSouth SudanSri LankaSudanSurinameSyriaTanzaniaThailandTimor-LesteTogoTongaTurkeyUgandaVenezuelaVietnamYemenZambiaZimbabwe

Vector information is sourced from WHO, CDC, and ECDC. Not medical advice. Personal decisions on repellents, vaccinations, or medication belong with a qualified travel health professional.