Larval competition extends developmental time and decreases adult size of wMelPop Wolbachia-infected Aedes aegypti

Abstract

The intracellular endosymbiont Wolbachia has been artificially transinfected into the dengue vector Aedes aegypti, where it is being investigated as a potential dengue biological control agent. Invasion of Wolbachia in natural populations depends upon the fitness of Wolbachia-infected Ae. aegypti relative to uninfected competitors. Although Wolbachia infections impose fitness costs on the adult host, effects at the immature stages are less clear, particularly in competitive situations. We look for effects of two Wolbachia infections, wMel and wMelPop, on intra-strain and interstrain larval competition in Ae. aegypti. Development of Wolbachia-infected larvae is delayed in mixed cohorts with u..