Trait‐mediated effects of predation across life‐history stages in container mosquitoes

Abstract

1. It was determined if the predatory midgeCorethrella appendiculataGrabham imposes a fitness cost in a native mosquito,Ochlerotatus triseriatusSay, and an invasive mosquito,Aedes albopictusSkuse. The hypothesis that decreased activity of immature prey in the presence of predator cues is associated with life history costs through all life cycle stages was tested.2. In experiment 1, individual larvae ofO. triseriatusorA. albopictuswere raised in the presence or absence of predation cues at two resource levels. Prey were video recorded to detect behavioural responses and to measure development time, size at emergence, and adult longevity. In experiment 2, prey populations were reared in similar environments and the frequency of predator cue additions was varied.3. OnlyO. triseriatusreduced its activity in the presence of predation cues. Predation cues were associated with longer immature development times and shorter adult life spans inO. triseriatus,whereas inA. albopictus, the cues were associated with a larger size of emerging adults.4. In the present study, it was found that behavioural modifications during the larval stage can affect mosquitoes through multiple stages of their complex life cycle. The species‐specific behavioural differences are probably attributable to the longer evolutionary historyO. triseriatushas with predators, relative to the invasiveA. albopictus.