Anopheles coluzzii

Anopheles coluzzii is one of the major malaria vector species within the Afrotropical Anopheles gambiae complex. Its range extends from West to Central Africa, where it is sympatric with the sister taxon A. gambiae in deciduous woodlands and predominates in coastal tropical rainforests and in northwestern Sudan-savannahs. Despite its recent divergence from A. gambiae, A. coluzzii exhibits distinct larval ecology, being present both in temporary rain-dependent ponds and in anthropogenic permanent sites with structured biocenosis, salinity, and pollution. Adults mate in swarms over species-specific landmarks at sunset. Females are mostly nocturnal and are inherently anthropophilic. The high genetic variability (also associated with paracentric inversion polymorphisms) confers high ecological flexibility (e.g., opportunistic host choices and flexible indoor/outdoor biting and resting activities). Adults exhibit desiccation tolerance and may persist at low densities during the dry season.