Evidence of multiple inseminations in the field in Aedes albopictus

PLoS One. 2012;7(8):e42040. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0042040. Epub 2012 Aug 15.

Abstract

Studies on the biology and mating behaviour of male mosquitoes are of major importance in a frame of a Sterile Insect Technique which could be used against mosquito vector species. Most particularly, the assumption of possible multiple inseminations in mosquito species must be investigated in order to optimize alternative mosquito control methods (Sterile Insect Techniques with genetically modified mosquitoes, cytoplasmic incompatibility, radiation…). The occurrence of multiple insemination events was investigated after 2 field samplings of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in La Reunion Island using microsatellite markers. Respectively, 14 and 13 females after the first and the second sampling laid eggs. Seven wild females out of the 27 laying females were found with a progeny involving more than one father. This result is important for the new alternative mosquito control methods and raises the importance of pre- and post-copulatory competition.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aedes / genetics
  • Aedes / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • DNA / genetics
  • Female
  • Genetic Markers
  • Male
  • Microsatellite Repeats / genetics*
  • Sexual Behavior, Animal*

Substances

  • Genetic Markers
  • DNA

Grants and funding

The IRD Sterile Insect Technique Project was financially supported by the French Ministry of Health and the FEDER Convergence Réunion 2007–2013 programme. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.