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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Mosquito and Fly Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #322039
Research Project: Biting Arthropod Surveillance and Control

Location: Mosquito and Fly Research

Title: Assessment of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) clutch size in wild and laboratory populations

Author
item DAVIS, TIMOTHY - University Of Florida
item Kline, Daniel - Dan
item KAUFMAN, PHILLIP - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Journal of Vector Ecology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/11/2015
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: University of Florida and USDA entomologists at the Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, Gainesville, FL, conducted laboratory and field studies to determine the egg production of the Asian Tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus. An assessment of egg production differences between wild caught and laboratory reared female mosquitoes was conducted. The impact of specific rearing conditions, e.g. larval density, on egg production was examined. Larval density had a significant impact on adult size. An association was observed between wing length and the number of eggs developed by laboratory and field populations. The causes and implications of these findings are discussed.

Technical Abstract: Aedes albopictus (Skuse) is an invasive mosquito species found across the southern U.S. and has undergone range expansion into many northern states. Although primarily pestiferous, it is a capable vector of many disease-causing pathogens. Intra- and interspecific larval competition have been evaluated for Ae. albopictus with respect to subsequent adult size, immature and adult survivability and its capacity to vector pathogens as an adult. However, limited data are available on egg production as related to larval rearing conditions. Because Ae. albopictus is a container-inhabiting mosquito that oviposits in resource-limited habitats it is found under variable density dependent conditions. Therefore, we examined the impact of specific rearing conditions on Ae. albopictus clutch size; comparing the egg production values from known developmental densities to those from field-collected populations. Field populations varied significantly between collection sites in mean clutch size (23 to 46). These clutch sizes were comparable to the mean clutch sizes of females reared at the larval densities of 9 (20 eggs) and 3 (53 eggs) larvae per 3 mL of water in the laboratory. The causes and implications of these findings are discussed.