The relationship between size and fecundity in Aedes albopictus

Abstract

Recent use of correlates of the intrinsic rate of increase and models to study population dynamics in mosquitoes has emphasized the need for species specific data on the relationship of morphological factors such as body size to life history parameters such as fecundity. Aedes albopictus is of concern because of its continued spread and population growth in the U.S. and the potential for virus transmission. We examined the relationships between pupal wet weight and adult female wing length and between female wing length and fecundity in the first gonotrophic cycle in U.S. strains of Ae. albopictus. There was a significant positive relationship between pupal wet weight and adult wing length. The relationship between wing length and fecundity was also significant and positive, but with lower correlation coefficients and higher variance indicating that other factors also affect fecundity. The regression coefficients for the fecundity-wing length equation did not differ between two strains of Ae. albopictus.