What is Landing Rate Count?

• A. A pesticide for larvae.
• B. A surveillance method where mosquitoes are counted as they land on a human in a set time.
• C. A trap for gravid mosquitoes.
• D. A method of habitat modification.

Answer: (B)

Landing rate count is a surveillance method that measures host-seeking mosquito activity by counting how many mosquitoes land on a person during a defined short time period. A trained observer exposes a small area of skin (usually the forearm) and records every landing within a set interval, typically one minute. This provides a direct read on biting pressure and how actively mosquitoes are seeking a host in that area and time. It’s useful for comparing activity across sites or times and for evaluating the impact of control measures. It differs from trapping or larval surveillance because it records the immediate interaction with a host rather than capturing insects or inspecting breeding sites, and it is not a trap for gravid mosquitoes or a habitat modification technique.