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URL: https://dx.doi.org/DOI:10.17504/protocols.io.tcweixe

Authors: Kurt Steinwascher

Summary: Female larvae of the Aedes aegypti mosquito outcompete male larvae for food.  Male larvae pupate earlier and at smaller masses in vials where competition is most intense.  Competition at the higher densities causes the food/larva to appear lower than the equivalent mg/larva at lower densities for both sexes.  The total food per vial appears to change the nature of the exploitative competition among females, which affects the competition among males.  No interference competition was observed; females may dominate the competition by their larger size (increased filtering ability) and by retaining food particles within their guts to extract a larger fraction of their nutrients.  Pupal mass for both sexes is primarily affected by food/larva; density affects the pupal mass through competition and the total food/vial (the interaction between food and density) and this interaction is different for the two sexes.  Age at pupation is more affected by density than by food/larva and the interaction between food and density also differs across the two sexes for this variable.  The nature of competition between and within the sexes at various food levels and densities is described.  The implications of this complex response to food level and density among larvae on the ecology of this species is considered. 

Associated Publications: Steinwascher K (2018) Competition among Aedes aegypti larvae. PLoS ONE 13(11): e0202455. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0202455

Affiliations: retired

External URL: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0202455

Version: 1

Publication Date: 2018

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