5 Deadly Disease Carrier Mosquitoes Found in Indonesia

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Mosquitoes are small but mighty insects. Often underestimated, these flying nuisances pose a serious health threat to humans. Indonesia's tropical climate supports the breeding of mosquitoes, some species of which carry dangerous diseases.

Mosquito bites not only cause itching but also may cause various deadly diseases. Quoted from the book Nyamuk-Nyamuk yang Berbahaya published by the Indonesian Ministry of Health, here are the five species of mosquitoes that are most often associated with the spread of disease in Indonesia.

1. Aedes aegypti

The Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are vectors of the dengue virus, which causes dengue hemorrhagic fever (DBD), one of the endemic diseases in Indonesia. Aedes aegypti is also responsible for the spread of chikungunya, yellow fever, and the Zika virus.

Some characteristics of these mosquitoes are the black and white spots on their legs. Actively biting humans in the morning and afternoon, Aedes aegypti mosquitoes often live indoors. They are rarely found in areas with an altitude over 1,000 meters above sea level.

2. Aedes albopictus

Often known as the "Asian tiger mosquito", Aedes albopictus is also a vector of dengue, yellow fever, Zika, and chikungunya viruses. Aedes albopictus mosquitoes breed in stagnant water such as tree holes, plant bends, and pieces of bamboo. These mosquitoes are commonly found in rural areas, suburbs, and city parks. They actively search for food during the day and can fly 400 to 600 meters from their breeding ground.

3. Anopheles

The Anopheles mosquito is the vector of the parasites Plasmodium, which causes malaria, and filariasis, or elephantiasis. According to the CDC, only about 30 to 40 species of Anopheles mosquitoes are known to transmit malaria. Female Anopheles mosquitoes bite humans at night and fly no further than 3 kilometers from their place of origin. Anopheles mosquitoes prefer to live in places with clean water such as rice fields, brackish water, or mountain water. 

4. Culex

Culex mosquitoes are often found in areas with dirty puddles, such as gutters, drains, and ditches. This mosquito, especially adult females, often bites humans and animals at night because it needs blood to produce eggs. According to an article written by Zumrotus Sholichah in the BALABA journal, Culex is a vector of various diseases, including filariasis, Japanese encephalitis, and West Nile fever.

Culex mosquitoes favor polluted environments to reside. To breed, these mosquitoes seek old puddles and rest in dark, cool, and humid places.

5. Mansonia

Mansonia mosquitoes are known for their role in filariasis transmission in Indonesia. Typically, Mansonia mosquitoes breed in ponds and lay their eggs in star-shaped clusters on the undersurface of aquatic plants. These mosquitoes are hard to control because they live in hard-to-reach habitats and breed rapidly in calm waters covered by aquatic vegetation.

PUTRI SAFIRA PITALOKA

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