nyamuk

Nyamuk is the Malay and Indonesian common name for the mosquito, a small flying insect in the family Culicidae. Mosquitoes are typically 3–6 mm long, with slender bodies, long legs, and wings with scales. The female mosquito requires a blood meal for egg development; males feed mainly on nectar.

Life cycle: Nyamuk undergo complete metamorphosis: egg, larva, pupa, adult. Eggs are usually laid on or near water; some species lay eggs in rafts on the surface, others on damp substrates. Larvae, called wrigglers, live in water and breathe through a siphon; pupae, called tumblers, are aquatic but do not feed. Adults emerge from the surface.

Ecology and behavior: Adults rest and feed near breeding sites; species vary in biting times. Some Anopheles are nocturnal; Aedes often bite during the day; Culex at dusk or night. Females bite humans and animals; males feed on nectar. They are attracted by carbon dioxide, body heat, and odors.

Medical importance: Several mosquito species transmit pathogens. Anopheles mosquitoes transmit malaria; Aedes species transmit dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever; Culex can transmit filarial worms and certain encephalitis viruses. The disease burden varies by region.

Control: Control relies on reducing standing water, improving housing with screens, and personal protection. Community measures include larviciding with Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti), insecticide-treated nets, indoor residual spraying, and environmental management. Biological controls, genetic approaches, and public health programs are also used.

Distribution: Nyamuk are found worldwide, with greatest diversity in tropical and subtropical regions; they occur in urban, rural, and wilderness areas. They are often most abundant near humans, contributing to disease transmission risk.