Relationship between mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) landing rates on a human subject and numbers captured using CO2-baited light traps

Abstract

AbstractCapture rates of insectary-reared femaleAedes albopictus(Skuse),Anopheles quadrimaculatusSay,Culex nigripalpusTheobald,Culex quinquefasciatusSay andAedes triseriatus(Say) in CDC-type light traps (LT) supplemented with CO2and using the human landing (HL) collection method were observed in matched-pair experiments in outdoor screened enclosures. Mosquito responses were compared on a catch-per-unit-effort basis using regression analysis with LT and HL as the dependent and independent variables, respectively. The average number of mosquitoes captured in 1 min by LT over a 24-h period was significantly related to the average number captured in 1 min by HL only forCx. nigripalpusandCx. quinquefasciatus. Patterns of diel activity indicated by a comparison of the mean response to LT and HL at eight different times in a 24-h period were not superposable for any species. The capture rate efficiency of LT when compared with HL was ≤15% for all mosquitoes exceptCx. quinquefasciatus(43%). Statistical models of the relationship between mosquito responses to each collection method indicate that, except forAe. albopictus, LT and HL capture rates are significantly related only during certain times of the diel period. Estimates of mosquito activity based on observations made between sunset and sunrise were most precise in this regard forAn. quadrimaculatusandCx. nigripalpus, as were those between sunrise and sunset forCx. quinquefasciatusandAe. triseriatus.