Anopheles (Greek anofelís: "useless") is a
genus of
mosquito first described and named by
J. W. Meigen in 1818. About 460 species are recognised; while over 100 can transmit human
malaria, only 30–40 commonly transmit parasites of the genus
Plasmodium, which cause malaria in humans in
endemic areas.
Anopheles gambiae is one of the best known, because of its predominant role in the transmission of the most dangerous malaria parasite species (to humans) –
Plasmodium falciparum.