title: Public perception of mosquito annoyance measured by a survey and simultaneous mosquito sampling.
abstract: For randomly chosen residents of the Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, metropolitan area, survey responses, reported bites, and observed defensive behaviors (e.g., brushing, swatting) for a 5-min period in their yard were compared with simultaneous mosquito counts from a human-baited drop-net trap 6 m from the resident. When mosquitoes trapped, reported bites, or observed behaviors per 5 min were 3 or more, the majority of respondents described the mosquito levels as greater than "moderate" and anticipated reduced outdoor time and/or possible repellent use. At 25 or more mosquitoes trapped, 11 or more reported bites, or 16 or more observed behaviors per 5 min, response was "bad", with most people anticipating a major reduction in outdoor time (without repellent), "probably" or "definitely" planning to use repellent, and anticipating some outdoor time loss even if using repellent. Levels of less than 3 mosquitoes trapped per 5 min were related to moderate annoyance in 20-45% of the population. Individual response was highly variable, and the personal and environmental covariates measured did not account for more than half the variability.
authors.affiliation: Metropolitan Mosquito Control District, St. Paul, MN 55104.
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Read
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Rooker
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Gathman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000330:Aedes; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D009033:Culicidae; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D007302:Insect Repellents; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota / Q000453:epidemiology; D009032:Mosquito Control; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011639:Public Opinion; D014887:Weather
chemical_list: D007302:Insect Repellents