Interactive Effects of Temperature and Ateleia glazioviana Baill (Fabaceae) Toxicity on Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) Mosquito Life-History Traits.

Abstract

Understanding the complex interplay between environmental factors and mosquito populations is crucial for effective vector-borne disease control. In this study, we investigated the combined effects of temperature and Ateleia glazioviana toxicity on the development and survival of Aedes aegypti, utilizing artificial microcosms. The first experiment used A. aegypti eggs, with microcosms varying by room temperature (18 °C and 25 °C) and exposure to A. glazioviana leaves, either without prior incubation or with a 14-day pre-incubation period. The second experimental design involved introducing larvae, with microcosms varying by room temperature (18 °C and 25 °C) and exposure to A. glazioviana leaves after a 14-day incubation period. For both experiments, we used only ultra-pure water and food for the control. Our results demonstrate that plant leachate toxicity had a more pronounced effect than temperature, with increased toxicity levels driving higher larval mortality rates. This reduction in competition among surviving larvae led to the development of larger individuals, consistent with the temperature-size rule. Notably, the impact of leachate toxicity was most significant when A. aegypti was exposed during the egg stage. Additionally, we observed that elevated temperatures were linked to increased wing asymmetry and reduced body size, suggesting heightened developmental instability under environmental stress. These findings have important implications for biological control strategies, emphasizing the need for pre-emptive measures before oviposition. Moreover, they challenge the commonly held assumption that temperature alone is the dominant factor shaping A. aegypti populations in Neotropical regions, highlighting the complex role of other ecological stressors.