INTRODUCTION: The epidemiological role of Aedes albopictus has been investigated in the State of S. Paulo by the study of its biological and ecological characteristics. The biting activity of Ae.albopictus taking stationary and moving collectors as parameters, is determined. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The study area was a small farm located in the periurban zone of Tremembé city, Vale do Paraíba, State of S. Paulo, Brazil. Aedes albopictus was caught by using two human-bait modalities. One lasted 24 hours as the collectors remained sitting in only one place and in the other the collectors visited 48 different points for five minutes each over a total period of four hours in the morning and the afternoon. Both catches were made once a month for the period of a year (1989/90). RESULTS: The 24 catches undertaken yielded 637 females of Ae.albopictus, of which 54 (8.4%) and 583 (91.6%) corresponded, respectively to fixed and moving human-bait conditions. An analysis of the data was made to discover the influence of host movement as attracting stimulus for Ae.albopictus. The biting activity took place during the day with peaks at 6:00 a.m., 1:00-2:00 p.m and the highest between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m. The majority of the adults were collected during the summer and autumn and the moving catches were positive for Ae.albopictus throughout the year. Rainfall and rising temperature were correlated to the abundance of this species. CONCLUSION: This study has shown the complex influence of the endogenous and exogenous factors relating to the blood feeding habit of Ae.albopictus. However, it seems clear that its biting behavior depends on two distinct flights. On one, the blood feeding is obtained by the flight direct to the host, over a small supposedly short distance, and another less significant apetente flight when collectors were in a stationary position. The biting activity took place during the day and may occur all year round.
Aedes; Feeding behavior; Ecology