Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Diptera

Family: Culicidae

Genus: Anopheles

Eggs of Anopheles are laid singly on the surface of the water often in heavy vegetation or algal mats. They are boat shaped with lateral floats. Larvae lack a siphon so they lay parallel to the water surface to breathe via a posterior opening on the abdomen. Adults rest with their proboscis, head and body in a straight line that is at an angle or perpendicular to the surface. Anopheles mosquitoes are the only know carrier of malaria. Five species are found in California.