Sampling efficacy of moving-sweep net collection relative to human landing catch for Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in a rubber plantation.

Abstract

Aedes albopictus (Skuse), the Asian tiger mosquito, is an efficient arbovirus vector adapted to suburban and forested environments, including rubber plantations. Effective surveillance requires reliable sampling techniques to assess mosquito abundance and transmission risk of mosquito-borne diseases. This study evaluated the efficacy of moving-sweep net collection (MSC) relative to human landing catch (HLC) for collecting Ae. albopictus during peak biting periods and estimated their parity rates, mosquito longevity, and vectorial capacity (VC). Both methods were evaluated in 3 rubber tree plots by rotating collectors' positions with respect to methods and plots over 24 d, with daily collection conducted from 07:00 to 10:00 and from 14:00 to 17:00. A Generalized Linear Mixed Model analysis with negative binomial distribution revealed HLC generally outperformed MSC in morning collections. However, afternoon collections consistently yielded higher mosquito counts across both methods and specific plots, with MSC occasionally showing higher efficiency in the afternoon. Both MSC and HLC significantly affect the age structure estimation of Ae. albopictus, particularly in the morning, where MSC captured a greater proportion of parous and older females. These differences in collection efficacy and parity rates influenced survival and infective lifespan, leading to MSC-collected mosquitoes showing a slightly higher estimation of VC than HLC. While HLC is practical for small areas, it is less effective for sampling spatially scattered mosquitoes. Whereas MSC is a reliable, efficient, and rapid sampling technique for representative sampling of mosquitoes in large, heterogeneous areas. Integrating standardized sampling methods such as MSC and HLC with age-grading techniques can improve vector surveillance and disease risk assessment.