Ookinete destruction within the mosquito midgut lumen explains Anopheles albimanus refractoriness to Plasmodium falciparum (3D7A) oocyst infection

► Development of a human malaria parasite is compared between two mosquito vector species. ► Ookinete formation within the midgut lumen is equivalent in both mosquito species. ► Plasmodium falciparum fails to produce oocyst infections in Anopheles albimanus. ► All ookinetes are destroyed within the midgut lumen of A. albimanus. ► Malaria parasite survival in all of the different midgut compartments is quantified.