Geographic variation in survival and reproduction of the mosquito, Aedes albopictus

Since A. albopictus invaded North America in the mid-1980s, it has spread across a range of ≈14ºC latitude. Intraspecific variation in life history across latitudinal gradients is a focus in ecology because climate variation with latitude can be a major selective force on life history traits of many organisms. Populations at the latitudinal extremes of the distribution of A. albopictus experience different climates that likely provide strong selection on life history; however, few prior studies have evaluated the role of inter-population variation in the life history of North American A. albopictus. We conducted life-table experiments to compare the survival, longevity, and reproduction of A. albopictus from four populations. Two populations experiencing similar climates (as measured from local meteorological stations) were from each of the extremes of the A. albopictus distribution in North America: Tampa and Ft Myers, FL (South, ≈27-28°N); and Bloomington, IN and Manassas, VA (North, ≈39°N). Survival analyses indicated significant main effects of taking a blood meal and of oviposition on survivorship. Survival analyses also indicated that survivorship was lower in Bloomington mosquitoes than all other populations, which did not differ. Linear models indicated that longevity, lifetime number of blood meals, and lifetime fertility were all lower in Bloomington mosquitoes than all other populations, which did not differ. These results suggest inherent geographical variation in key life history traits of A. albopictus, but also that climate, at least measured from local meteorological stations, is probably not the main selective factor driving such geographic differences.