The Villain: Mr. Anopheles

Anopheles, which sounds a lot like the evil Mephistopheles, is the genus of mosquito that brings malaria.  The creature does not carry the disease itself but is transportation for a parasite called plasmodium malariae that accompanies the carrier wherever it goes.  Like a Sky Marshal without the personality.  Interestingly enough, there can be plenty of anopheles around, biting people without consequences... if plasmodium is not aboard.

Anopheles likes to work at night.  Beginning at dusk, the mosquitos start to appear and feed on whatever warm mammal they can find all night long.  Like little vampires, they huddle out of the sunlight at which time they are vulnerable to insecticide spraying and habitat destruction.

Neem is used to combat anopheles on multiple levels.
1. When leaves are steeped in water overnight, the resultant solution is an effective, organic, natural insectide for spraying mosquito habitat.  It kills mosquitos while they are resting.
2. Ground dried Neem leaf sprinkled on standing water kills anopheles larvae
3. The trees, as we have learned anecdotally are said to repel mosquitos in a radius of 100 meters in all directions.  SEE VIDEO HERE.
4. Rubbing Neem oil on the skin will repel mosquitos.
5. If one comes down with malaria, a decoction of Neem leaf as a tea virtually eliminates symptoms overnight.  For children, the strength of the tea must be intentional - very weak for children under a year old and progressively stronger at older age levels.

Anopheles and Plasmodium are the enemies.  We know how to kill them.  Let us come out from behind our nets or our "Oh, well." atttitude and aggressively kill these critters where they live.  CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON ANOPHELES.  Thanks to the CDC for info and to Nat Geo for the photo.