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Using the Fluorescent Dye, Rhodamine B, to Study Mating Competitiveness in Male Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes
Published on: May 7, 2021
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Parentage Assignment Using Microsatellites Reveals Multiple Mating in Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae):
Marcela Pimid1,2, Kumara Thevan Krishnan1, Abu Hassan Ahmad2
1Faculty of Agro Based Industry, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Jeli Campus, 17600 Kelantan, Malaysia.
Journal of Medical Entomology
|June 22, 2022
Summary
Both male and female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes exhibit polyandry, mating with multiple partners. This finding is crucial for developing effective mosquito control strategies using sterile or genetically modified insects.
Area of Science:
- Medical Entomology
- Vector-Borne Diseases
- Behavioral Ecology
Background:
- Aedes aegypti mosquitoes transmit dengue, yellow fever, and chikungunya.
- Previous research suggested male Ae. aegypti are polyandrous, while females are monandrous.
- The extent of multiple mating in both sexes of Ae. aegypti requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To rigorously test the mating capabilities of male and female Ae. aegypti.
- To quantify the rates of polyandry in competitive mating experiments.
- To inform the development of genetic control strategies for mosquito populations.
Main Methods:
- Conducted three competitive mating experiments with wild-type Ae. aegypti.
- Utilized nine microsatellite DNA markers for parentage assignment.
- Employed CERVUS software for offspring-to-parental linkage with 80-95% confidence.
Main Results:
- Both male and female Ae. aegypti demonstrated polyandry, mating with 3-4 different partners.
- Significant variation in reproductive output was observed, with progeny ranging from 1 to 25.
- Parentage assignment was successful for all offspring.
Conclusions:
- This study reveals a higher degree of polyandry in both sexes of Ae. aegypti than previously understood.
- Findings highlight the importance of considering mating fitness, specifically polyandry, in sterile insect technique and genetic modification programs.
- Selection of highly polyandrous males and females is recommended for effective mosquito control.
