ESA Eastern Branch Meeting Online Program
Phenotypic plasticity in life history in an invasive mosquito (Aedes albopictus) across photoperiod regimes
Keenan, M., Ndhlovu, M., Whittington, S, and Costanzo, K.S.
We investigated the effects of photoperiod on the life history of the invasive mosquito, Aedes albopictus. Larvae were hatched and raised in one of three photoperiod treatments (light:dark); control (12:12), short day (9:15), and long day (15:9). Emergence date, size, and longevity were recorded for each mosquito. There was a significant effect of photoperiod on size and development time, but not longevity. Mosquitoes that emerged from the short day treatment were significantly larger than those that emerged from the control treatment. In addition, the development time in the long day treatment was significantly longer than those in the control treatment. We discuss the importance of these results with respect to seasonal variation and invasion biology of this introduced species.
