Elevated developmental temperatures below the lethal limit reduce Aedes aegypti fertility.

Abstract

Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are the principal vectors of dengue and continue to pose a threat to human health, with ongoing urbanization, climate change, and trade all impacting the distribution and abundance of this species. Hot periods are becoming increasingly common and their impacts on insect mortality have been well established, but they may have even greater impacts on insect fertility. In this study, we investigated the impacts of high temperatures on Ae. aegypti fertility both within and across generations. Mosquitoes developing under elevated temperatures exhibited higher critical thermal maxima (CTmax) reflecting developmental acclimation, but their fertility declined with increasing developmental temperature. In females, elevated developmental temperatures decreased fecundity while in males it tended to decrease egg hatch proportions and the proportion of individuals producing viable offspring. Rearing both sexes at 35°C increased fecundity in the subsequent generation but effects of elevated temperatures persisted across gonotrophic cycles within the same generation. Moreover, exposure of adults to 35°C further decreased fertility beyond the effects of developmental temperature alone. These findings highlight sub-lethal impacts of elevated temperatures on Ae. aegypti fertility and plastic responses to thermal stress within and across generations. This has significant implications for predicting the distribution and abundance of mosquito populations thriving in increasingly warmer environments.