Bulletin of Entomological Research 2006-04-01

Mark-recapture without estimating population sizes: a tool to evaluate termite baits.

M W J Crosland, N-Y Su

Index: Bull. Entomol. Res. 96(2) , 99-103, (2006)

Full Text: HTML

Abstract

The mark-recapture technique is currently being used by many termite researchers. Here its two uses are explained and disentangled. Use 1 is mapping the geographical location of the colony and use 2 is estimating the number of termites in the colony. Use 2 is controversial because the accuracy of the estimates has been widely questioned. In this article, it is explained that use 1 is not controversial and that use 1 (not use 2) is the criterion that is currently being used for evaluating the efficacy of termite baits.