What is the Difference Between Aedes and Anopheles Mosquito

The main difference between Aedes and Anopheles mosquito is that Aedes mosquito serves an intermediate host for dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, etc. whereas Anopheles mosquito serves as the intermediate host for malaria parasite. Furthermore, Aedes mosquito is an aggressive day biter while Anopheles mosquito is most active at dawn and dusk as well as during the night.  

Aedes and Anopheles are two genera of mosquitoes that serve as vectors for different diseases. Moreover, the third genus is Culex, and several other genera of mosquitoes serve as disease vectors.  

Key Areas Covered 

1. Aedes Mosquito
     – Taxonomy, Anatomical Features, Behavior, Importance
2. Anopheles Mosquito
     – Taxonomy, Anatomical Features, Behavior, Importance
3. What are the Similarities Between Aedes and Anopheles Mosquito
     – Outline of Common Features
4. What is the Difference Between Aedes and Anopheles Mosquito
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms 

Aedes, Anopheles, Dengue, Life Stages, Malaria, Resting Position

Aedes Mosquito – Taxonomy, Anatomical Features, Behavior, Importance 

The Aedes is a genus of mosquitoes found in both tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Significantly, some of the species of Aedes are container-breeding mosquitoes that lay eggs in artificial containers with water. Therefore, they can be spread by human activity. Generally, the female Aedes mosquito lays eggs just above the water level. When the level of water rises, eggs can get moisture and start growth. Some species of Aedes lay eggs on floodplains after rain, irrigation ditches, pools, brackish swamps, salt marshes, etc. 

Figure 1: Aedes aegypti

Furthermore, Aedes is a dangerous genus of mosquitoes as they are anthropophagic, feeding on humans blood. Also, they serve as an intermediate host for several vector-borne diseases, including dengue fever, yellow fever, chikungunya, Zika virus, West Nile fever, eastern equine encephalitis, and human lymphatic filariasis. Besides, the most invasive species of Aedes is Aedes albopictus. 

Anopheles Mosquito – Taxonomy, Anatomical Features, Behavior, Importance 

Anopheles is another genus of mosquitoes characterized by their ability to transmit malaria. Generally, over 100 of the 460 species of Anopheles serve as an intermediate host for the malaria parasite, Plasmodium. Also, the most dangerous malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum is transmitted by Anopheles gambiae. 

Figure 2: Anopheles stephensi

However, these mosquitoes are limited to tropical regions, and they prefer warmer climates. Besides, they are most notorious in sub-Saharan Africa. Generally, the female Anopheles mosquito lay eggs on open water pools with little vegetation. Also, the eggs are laid individually. Additionally, these eggs are supported by floats.  

Similarities Between Aedes and Anopheles Mosquito

• Aedes and Anopheles are two genera of mosquitoes which serve as vectors for different diseases. 
• Both are insects with a thin body. Also, they have six legs and a pair of scaled wings. 
• Further, they have big compound eyes, touching each other. 
• Both have sucking mouthparts. 
• Generally, they show a blazing fast reproduction.  
• Their life cycle consists of four stages: eggs, larva, pupa, and adult, undergoing complete metamorphosis.  
• Both lay eggs on water.  
• Usually, they feed on either plant nectar or honeydew. 
• Their female mosquitoes feed on vertebrate blood to supply proteins and iron required by the development of eggs. 
• They lay eggs singly in a horizontal pattern on the surface of the water.  
• Both transmit diseases through their blood meal by serving as disease vectors.  
• Therefore, both are intermediate hosts of vector-borne diseases. 

Difference Between Aedes and Anopheles Mosquito

Definition 

Aedes refers to a large cosmopolitan genus of mosquitoes that includes vectors of some diseases such as yellow fever and dengue while Anopheles refers to a mosquito of a genus which is particularly common in warmer countries and includes the mosquitoes that transmit the malarial parasite to humans.

Species 

The genera Aedes comprises around 700 species while the genera Anopheles comprises about 460 species.  

Inhabits 

Moreover, Aedes inhabits both tropical and subtropical regions while Anopheles inhabits tropical regions.  

Intermediate Host for 

Aedes serves as the intermediate host for the viruses, which cause dengue fever, yellow fever, Zika virus, and chikungunya virus and for the nematodes that cause humans lymphatic filariasis while Anopheles serves as the intermediate host for the malaria parasite. Thus, this is a major difference between Aedes and Anopheles mosquito.

Eggs 

Aedes lays eggs on clear, stagnant water hidden from sunlight while Anopheles lays eggs on the dirty, murky water. Hence, this is another difference between Aedes and Anopheles mosquito.

Larvae 

Another observable difference between Aedes and Anopheles mosquito is that the larva of Aedes has a siphon and stays in an angle to the water surface while the larva of Anopheles does not have a siphon and stays parallel to the water surface. 

Adults 

The adult of Aedes has black and white patches while the adult of Anopheles is yellowish. Thus, this another observable difference between Aedes and Anopheles mosquito.

Resting Position 

Furthermore, the resting position of the adult Aedes is parallel to the surface while the resting position of the adult Anopheles has an angle of 45 degrees to the surface.  

Active During 

Importantly, Aedes mosquito is an aggressive day biter while Anopheles mosquito is most active at dawn and dusk as well as during the night.  

Behaviour 

Also, one other difference between Aedes and Anopheles is that Aedes is anthropophilic while Anopheles is zoophilic. 

Indoors or Outdoors 

Besides, Aedes is endophagic (indoors) while Anopheles is either endophagic or exophagic (outdoors). 

Conclusion 

Aedes is one of the most dangerous genera of mosquitoes that serve as an intermediate host for several diseases, including dengue, yellow fever, and lymphatic filariasis. Moreover, it is an aggressive biter active during the day time. Moreover, the body of Aedes contains black and white patches. In addition, the resting position of Aedes is parallel to the surface. On the other hand, Anopheles is the specific genera of mosquitoes responsible for the transmission of malaria, which can be fatal. Also, it is active at dawn and dusk and during the night. However, the body of Anopheles is yellowish in colour, and its resting position produces a 45 degrees angle with the surface. Therefore, the main difference between Aedes and Anopheles mosquito is the type of diseases they transmit, anatomy, and behaviour. 

References:

1. “All Mosquito Netting Info.” Types of Mosquitoes: Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex, Available Here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Aedes aegypti feeding” By Muhammad Mahdi Karim – Own work (GFDL 1.2) via Commons Wikimedia   
2. “Anopheles stephensi” By Jim Gathany – This media comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Public Health Image Library (PHIL), with identification number #5814. (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia