Table 7 Differences in biology between Anopheles arabiensis and An. funestus [[15]]

Southern African distribution

Present in South Africa in the low-lying north-eastern areas

Absent from South Africa at present, but occurs in southern Mozambique

Habitat type

Arid-adapted, areas as low as 40% relative humidity, environmental temperatures as high as 50 °C

“Tropical species”, requires more humid environment, environmental temperatures up to 40 °C

Breeding sites

Shallow, temporary pools <0.5 m deep eg, hoof prints, tyre tracks

Swamps, slow-flowing streams, deep and vegetated water bodies

Behaviour

Exophilic and endophilic, feeds on cattle and humans

Endophilic, prefers to feed on humans