Estimation of the attraction range of a human bait for Aedes albopictus (Diptera, culicidae) adults and its absolute density by a new removal method applicable to populations with immigrants

Summary The attraction range of a human bait for Aedes albopictus (Diptera, Culicidae) adults and its absolute density in the range were estimated by a new removal method which is applicable to populations with immigrants. In this model, the number of mosquitoes removed during the kth collection unit yk, is expressed as urn:x-wiley:14383896:pope0328:equation:pope0328-math-0001 where x0 is the initial number of mosquitoes in the attraction range, a is an index directly proportional to collection efficiency, b is the number of immgirants per collection unit and s(=e−a) is the survival rate of mosquitoes in the attraction range per collection unit. From the result of successive two collections with various interval distances, it was considered that Aedes albopictus adults are attracted to a human bait from the distance of 4–5 m in the bamboo forest on the calm day. The applicability of this method for the population census of forest mosquitoes was discussed.