\A*noph"e*les\ ([.a]*n[o^]f"[-e]*l[=e]z), n. [NL., fr.
Gr. 'anwfelh`s useless, hurtful.] (Zo["o]l.)
A genus of mosquitoes which are secondary hosts of the
malaria parasites, and whose bite is the usual, if not the
only, means of infecting human beings with malaria. Several
species are found in the United States. They may be
distinguished from the ordinary mosquitoes of the genus
{Culex} by the long slender palpi, nearly equaling the beak
in length, while those of the female {Culex} are very short.
They also assume different positions when resting, {Culex}
usually holding the body parallel to the surface on which it
rests and keeping the head and beak bent at an angle, while
{Anopheles} holds the body at an angle with the surface and
the head and beak in line with it. Unless they become
themselves infected by previously biting a subject affected
with malaria, the insects cannot transmit the disease.