Anopheles minimus

Anopheles minimus is a major malaria vector in the hilly foothills of South and Southeast Asia. Unlike its forest-dwelling cousin An. dirus, it prefers stream-side vegetation and hill villages, though the two overlap in many regions.

It is a flexible biter — feeding both indoors and outdoors, with peak activity in the early night hours (dusk to midnight). This mixed behaviour makes it vulnerable to both indoor residual spraying and bed nets, though outdoor exposure remains a risk factor in rural hill communities.