Posing grave problems for controlling the transmission of the blood parasite, the most dangerous type of malaria-carrying mosquito is evolving into two different species, which kills up to a million people each year.

Across Africa, Anopheles gambiae is widespread, and for about half of the 500 million new cases of malaria each year, it is held responsible. This mosquito is on its way to becoming a distinct species as they have split into two genetically different strains.

According to the scientists who discovered the genetic differences between the two strains, due to eradication strategies directed against one mosquito species may not be effective against another, the revelation could present real difficulties in controlling malaria.

Mara Lawniczak of Imperial College London said, "From our new studies, we can see that mosquitoes are evolving more quickly than we thought and that unfortunately strategies that might work against one strain of mosquito might not be effective against another."

It was further added that the makeup of mosquitoes that spread malaria is possible by these studies as it will enable the scientists to figure out ways to keep malaria away.