Comparative studies of Wolbachia spread dynamics in mosquito populations via discrete models

Depicting Wolbachia spread dynamics in mosquito populations using discrete dynamical models has a long history since 1959. All these models put the fitness cost to infected females alone while ignoring the fitness cost of Wolbachia infection to infected males. Based on the experimental observation that Wolbachia infection in males results in shorter longevity and decreased male fertility than uninfected males, we introduce a new discrete model to take the fitness cost of infected males into consideration. Comparative studies, focusing on the establishment threshold and the polymorphic state of Wolbachia, are carried out based on the characteristics of the Wolbachia strains. These results are important for the management and control of mosquito-borne diseases, especially when using Wolbachia as a biological control agent.