Control of Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) populations is vital for reducing the transmission of several pervasive human diseases. The success of new vector control technologies will be influenced by the fitness of laboratory-reared transgenic males. However, there has been relatively little published data on how rearing practices influence male fitness in Aedes mosquitoes. In the laboratory, the effect of larval food availability on adult male fitness was tested, using a range of different fitness measures. Larval food availability was demonstrated to be positively correlated with adult body size. Larger males survived longer and exhibited greater swarming activity. As a consequence, larger males may have more mating opportunities in the wild. However, we also found that within a swarm larger males did not have an increased likelihood of copulating with a female. The outcome of the mating competition experiments depended on the methodology used to mark the males. These results show that fitness assessment can vary depending on the measure analyzed, and the methodology used to determine it. Continued investigation into these fitness measures and methodologies, and critically, their utility for predicting male performance in the field, will increase the efficiency of vector control programs.
Swarming Data
Data on number of males swarming at each time point in each cage
SwarmingData.csv
Swarming Maximum
Maximum number of males swarming per cage at any time point.
Swarming_Maximum.csv
Mating Data - Paint Method
This dataset shows the results of the mating competition experiments when using the bulb duster method of marking the mosquitoes. The trial number (T1-T3) is given, and the ID of the males involved. The number before the decimal point indicates the cage number, and the .1, .2 and .3 indicate the order of the matings within the cage. Those males that do not have a decimal point in their ID number did not mate, and solely the cage number is given. The diet of the male and the dust that they were marked with is given. Details on whether they mated (Yes) or not (No) is provided. For those males that mated, the females diet and dust type is also given. The wing-length in mm of both the mated and unmated males is also provided.
Mating Data - Bulb Duster Method
This dataset shows the results of the mating competition experiments when using the bulb duster method of marking the mosquitoes. The trial number (T1-T3) is given, and the ID of the males involved. The number before the decimal point indicates the cage number, and the .1, .2 and .3 indicate the order of the matings within the cage. Those males that do not have a decimal point in their ID number did not mate, and solely the cage number is given. The diet of the male and the dust that they were marked with is given. Details on whether they mated (Yes) or not (No) is provided. For those males that mated, the females diet and dust type is also given. The wing-length in mm of both the mated and unmated males is also provided.
Mating Data- Bulb Duster Method.csv
Survival Experiments
This dataset shows the results of the survival experiments. For block 1 and 2, the survival data is provided for the high and low diet males that remained virgins (Virgins), and the high and low diet males that were exposed to females (Mated). The day is given and the cup number (1-4). For each day the number of males alive and dead is given, and the % survival.