This page represents the following TreeOfLife-200M taxonomic path.[1]
Anopheles rivulorum is a small, slender mosquito typical of the genus Anopheles. In preserved specimens, the body exhibits a brownish coloration. The wings are narrow and elongated, and the legs are long and thin, consistent with the general morphology of the Anopheles funestus group.[1]
Anopheles rivulorum is a member of the Anopheles funestus group and is recognized as a potential minor or opportunistic vector of Plasmodium falciparum in Africa.[2]
The species exhibits indoor biting behavior, with a distinct peak in activity during the early evening (18:00–20:00), a period when insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) are often not in use. While previously considered primarily exophilic and zoophilic, studies have demonstrated that An. rivulorum can be collected indoors and feeds on human blood, although it is more zoophilic than An. funestus s.s. Host blood meal analysis has identified An. rivulorum feeding on a wide range of animals, including cows, bats, birds, apes, mice, bushbuck, and hippopotami. Larval habitats are closely associated with aquatic vegetation, such as water hyacinths in Lake Victoria.[2]
An. rivulorum has been found to harbor Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites, with a positive rate of 0.70% reported in one study in western Kenya. The species has the potential to replace other major malaria vectors (such as An. funestus s.s.) following the implementation of indoor insecticide-based control measures.[2]
Regarding insecticide susceptibility, An. rivulorum has shown higher susceptibility to pyrethroids (permethrin and deltamethrin) compared to An. funestus s.s., though there is evidence suggesting the potential development of pyrethroid resistance. The species remains highly susceptible to other insecticides, including DDT, propoxur, and fenitrothion.[2]