The role of wing size variation in the fitness of Aedes aegypti field-populations

The aim of this research is to develop our understanding of how wing size, blood feeding success, and longevity are related in Aedes aegypti populations. Wing size is reflective of the environmental conditions during larval development and is likely to influence vectorial capacity during adulthood. Those that are involved in the surveillance and control of disease-transmitting mosquito vectors are interested in learning how climate change might affect disease distribution. While body size is known to influence traits that affect vectorial capacity such as blood feeding frequency, fecundity, susceptibility and lifespan, there have been no studies thus far that directly measure the relationship between wing size and population age structure in the field. Furthermore, none have studied the relationship between blood feeding success and wing size in an arid environment or across an aridity gradient.