Vectors are creatures that act to spread pathogens to other species. Vectors act essentially as the middlemen in the infection process. In the case of malaria, the mosquito is the main vector for transporting the protozoa plasmodium which cause malaria. When a mosquito bites a person infected with plasmodium, the plasmodium takes refuge within the gut of the mosquito. Life cycles important to the existence and proliferation of plasmodium must occur within the mosquito. The plasmodium form gametes within the mosquito; these go on to mature into an ookinete. The ookinete stage allows the plasmodium to withstand the environment of the gut of the mosquito. From this point the plasmodium ookinete release the mobile form of plasmodium, known as the sporozoites. When a mosquito bites a human being, it is the sporozoite which infects a new host human being.
Out of the 3,500 known species of mosquitos, 40 have been known to harbor malaria(1). Only female mosquitos can harbor plasmodium. This is due to the fact that only female mosquitos bite human beings. The male mosquitos do not bite human beings.
(1.) http://www.map.ox.ac.uk/explore/mosquito-malaria-vectors/
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