Competitive displacement of Aedes (Stegomyia) Polynesiensis Marks by Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus Skuse in laboratory populations.

Abstract

Experiments were designed to determine whether competition occurs between Aedes (S.) polynesiensis and A. (S.) albopictus under laboratory conditions. In all experiments, A. albopictus rapidly eliminated A. polynesiensis from the mixed species cage populations. It was concluded that competition with the A. albopictus larvae retarded the development of the A. polynesiensis larvae, allowing the former species to gain a numerical advantage in the mixed cage populations. When the A. polynesiensis females finally did emerge, they encountered a dominant population of aggressive A. albopictus males. The principal factor in causing the rapid elimination of A. polynesiensis appeared to be the sterility which resulted from insemination by A. albopictus males. These results indicate that the competitive displacement principle does apply to these species under laboratory conditions and that a field trial should be considered.