Mosquito pornoscopy: Observation and interruption of Aedes aegypti copulation to determine female polyandric event and mixed progeny

Abstract

Ades aegypti is the most important arbovirus vector in the world, and new strategies are under evaluation. Biological studies mentioning the occurrence of a second mate in Aedes aegypti can interfere with vector control program planning, which involves male mosquito release technique. This study presents different experiments to show the occurrence of mixed progeny. Mixed male crosses (using a combination of different type of males in confinement with virgin females) showed no polyandric female. Individual crosses with male substitution in every gonotrophic cycle also did not show any polyandric female. Individual crosses with a 20 minutes interval, with subsequent male change, showed that only a few females presented mixed offspring. The copulation breach in three different moments, group A with full coitus length, group B the coitus was interrupted in 5–7 seconds after the start; and group C, which the copulation was interrupted 3 seconds after started. In summary, group A showed a majority of unique progeny from the first male; group B showed the higher frequency of mixed offspring and group C with the majority of the crosses belonging to the second male. To conclude, the occurrence of a viable second mate and mixed offspring is only possible when the copulation is interrupted; otherwise, the first mate is responsible for mixed progeny.

Small females prefer small males: size assortative mating in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes

“…aegypti are small, there is likely to be an increased mating success of small males. Because females mostly mate only once [ 41 , 42 ], this results in a mating advantage to small males regardless of whether the males are infected or uninfected by Wolbachia . Therefore, although Wolbachia have no direct effect on mating [ 35 , 43 ] except under particularly high or low frequencies [ 44 ], environmental effects as used here to generate mosquitoes of different sizes could influence mating success.…”

Small females prefer small males: size assortative mating in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes

“…aegypti are small, there is likely to be an increased mating success of small males. Because females mostly mate only once [40, 41], this results in a mating advantage to small males regardless of whether the males are infected or uninfected by Wolbachia . Therefore, although Wolbachia have no direct effect on mating [33, 42] except under particularly high or low frequencies [43], environmental effects as used here to generate mosquitoes of different sizes could influence mating success.…”

Differentiation of Multiple Fluorescent Powders, Powder Transfer, and Effect on Mating in Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)

“…Aedes aegypti mating takes place naturally mainly in aerial swarms near the host [ 11 , 12 , 13 ] or between compatible mating pairs in laboratory settings [ 14 , 15 ], when males and females recognize and interact between each other through visual, acoustic and chemical cues [ 12 , 16 , 17 ]. The mating process consists of three phases, from recognition to genital contact (coupling), the “venter-to-venter” genitalia engagement and semen transfer (copulation), and the deposition of the spermatozoa and male secretions in the female sperm reservoirs or spermathecae (insemination) [ 18 ]. Duration of each mating phases varies, depending on factors such as the sexual maturation (males require 36 to 48 h to rotate their genitalia before mating) and receptiveness of each couple member, age, size [ 19 ], their flight behavior, and harmonic convergence [ 17 ], the presence of other males, the time it takes for the male to be in the correct position, and female resisting or cooperating behavior [ 16 ].…”