Anopheles stephensi:
Urban malaria, driven largely by the spread of invasive vector Anopheles stephensi in metropolitan areas like Delhi, has emerged as a national concern threatening India’s goal of eliminating the mosquito-borne disease by 2030, according to the Health Ministry’s recently released Malaria Elimination Technical Report, 2025
- It is an invasive mosquito species originating from parts of Southeast Asia and the Arabian Peninsula.
- It is a major malaria vector.
- It has recently spread to parts of Africa, posing a growing public-health concern.
- Unlike most malaria vectors, it is adept at colonizing urban environments.
- It can breed in tiny amounts of water year-round and has made a comfortable home in urban areas
- Throughout its natural range, Anopheles stephensi is an important vector for both Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax.
- In urban areas, An. stephensi is found throughout the year but is most abundant in the summer months (between June and August), which coincides with the peak period of malaria transmission.
