Examples of mosquitoes in natural positions from Smithsonian miscellaneous collections.

Smithsonian miscellaneous collections.

Examples of mosquitoes in natural positions.

Bzzzz! As you swat at that pesky mosquito, keep in mind that it isn’t your average insect. Female Anopheles mosquitoes have a deadly bite; a bite that can cause malaria! Malaria is an infection that develops in tropical areas. The wet, hot, and humid climate in Africa is perfect for these mosquitos. Many people cannot afford to buy mosquito netting or other barriers against the bugs. As a result, up to 500 million people throughout the world are infected with malaria each year. Of those 500 million people, two million end up dying from the disease. Sadly, almost all of these deaths occur in Africa. Thankfully, there is a cure for malaria. The disease is treatable, and people who get the vaccine can have a full recovery.