Anopheles franciscanus

McCracken, 1904

Anopheles franciscanus is a mosquito in the Culicidae, first described by McCracken in 1904. The species has been documented in southern California and is part of the Anopheles , which includes mosquitoes capable of transmitting . Seven have been described, ranging across Middle America and North America.

Anopheles franciscanus by (c) Don Loarie, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Anopheles franciscanus: /əˈnɒfɪliːz frænˈsɪkənəs/

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Identification

Specific morphological features distinguishing Anopheles franciscanus from other Anopheles are not documented in available sources. As with other Anopheles mosquitoes, likely exhibit the characteristic resting posture with body angled away from the surface and , palps, and aligned forward.

Images

Habitat

Collected in southern California; specific preferences are not documented.

Distribution

Documented from southern California. GBIF records indicate presence in Middle America and North America.

Human Relevance

As a member of the Anopheles , this may have potential significance for public health given that some Anopheles mosquitoes are of Plasmodium that cause . However, specific vector status for Anopheles franciscanus is not documented in available sources.

Similar Taxa

Other Anopheles speciesAnopheles franciscanus shares -level characteristics with other Anopheles mosquitoes, including similar body plan and resting posture. Specific distinguishing features from are not documented.

More Details

Subspecies

Seven have been described: Anopheles franciscanus bifoliata (Osorno-m. & Munoz-s., 1948), Anopheles franciscanus franciscanus (McCracken, 1904), Anopheles franciscanus levicastilloi (Levi-castillo, 1944), Anopheles franciscanus neghmei (Mann, 1950), Anopheles franciscanus noei (Mann, 1950), Anopheles franciscanus patersoni (Alvarado & Heredia, 1947), and Anopheles franciscanus rivadeneirai (Levi-castillo, 1945).

Taxonomic Status

Catalogue of Life lists this as a synonym, while GBIF treats it as accepted. This discrepancy indicates some taxonomic uncertainty that may require further investigation.