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Malaria mosquito. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the head of a female mosquito Anopheles gambiae. The females of this species are carriers of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium sp. The female is distinguished from the male of the species by the relative sparseness of the bristles on her antennae. These are seen just below the compound eyes which are coloured green here. The probosis (front of image) contains the piercing and sucking instruments enclosed in a sheath which are used when the female takes a blood meal. It is at this point that the malaria parasite is injected into the bloodstream of humans. (KEYSTONE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Str) === ===