Mosquitoes

These species are documented to be the source of dengue in the Philippines and most of Asia. The Chikungunya virus is also transmitted by these species. Because the female mosquitoes can lay their eggs even in the smallest puddles of clean to slightly-polluted water, it's considered to be a grave concern for urban communities.

The malaria parasitic disease is endemic to certain provinces in the Philippines, typically in rural areas as they prefer to lay eggs in clean, slow-flowing fresh or salt water streams, marshes, or rice fields. The adult is best characterized when at rest, with their bodies pointing at almost 45 degrees towards the surface. Their larvae or wrigglers also lie horizontal to the water surface when they have to breathe in air.

Apart from being relentless biters, there are sub-species that can transmit deadly and debilitating diseases such as Japanese encephalitis and lymphatic filariasis. In the Philippines, cases of encephalitis and filariasis have been reported in remote areas of Palawan and in the abaca plantations of Bicol. They lay eggs in rafts in dirty to slightly dirty waters, and are common in both rural and urban communities.