LANDING COUNTS

Background

The collection of mosquitoes as they bite or alight on humans or animals is a simple means of determining the important pest species and in estimating their relative abundance. The method should be standardized so that comparisons can be made between biting rates at different locations. Regular stations should be sampled weekly. Collections for each station should be made at the same time of day or night depending upon the biting habits of the species involved. In some cases, particularly with day biting salt marsh or pasture mosquitoes, the index may be obtained from the numbers alighting upon one’s clothing rather than those actually in biting position. This method is also useful for a rapid check of mosquito abundance before and after treatment when populations are very high.

Identification of Landing Count Locations

Counties should identify twenty landing count stations. Each landing count location should be within the area identified on the population density maps provided by PHPM. A representative from the Public Health Pest Management office will work with the county to evaluate the landing count stations identified by each county.

Each county should conduct landing counts as needed during the disaster response effort to facilitate control efforts. Regular assessments of the landing count stations by county personnel will expedite any future control effort. Each county should identify an individual to accompany the representative from PHPM to conduct pre and post landing count investigations.

Landing Count Procedures

Each landing count will count the number of mosquitoes landing for one minute. The minute interval starts when the first mosquito lands on the person conducting the landing count. Having a county representative attend the landing count survey helps with the accuracy of each count. It will also provide the county with insight to the mosquito population and it’s distribution across the potential control area.

It is important to maintain clear and accurate records of landing count data.  Please see our Forms page for suggested formats.

Post Treatment Landing Counts

Post treatment landing counts are required by the CDC to determine the effectiveness of the control effort. These landing counts should be conducted with in twelve hours after the application. Each count should be conducted in the same location as the pre treatment landing counts.

Criteria for FEMA funding

There are four criteria Fema uses to identify the need for emergency mosquito control after a natural disaster they are:

1. Transmission of human or animal disease is in progress or deemed imminent.
2. Large populations of nuisance species substantially hamper reconstruction efforts.
3. Normal functioning of communities in the disaster area is substantially disrupted.
4. Large nuisance populations place additional stress on the human population.

The landing count data collected by personnel from the Public Health Pest Management Office are forwarded to Fema and the CDC for this decision making process. A designated contact from each county that can facilitate locating each landing count station will help to expedite this process.