# Population differences in reproductive resource allocation and heterosis in the invasive vector Aedes albopictus

## TL;DR

This study finds that invasive populations of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes have higher reproductive capacity and hybrid vigor, which may help explain their success in spreading.

## Contribution

The study reveals population-level physiological and genetic differences in reproductive traits linked to invasion success in Aedes albopictus.

## Key findings

- Invasive Aedes albopictus populations are larger and have higher reproductive output than native and old populations.
- Hybrid vigor is observed in invasive populations, though it varies across different groups.
- Reproductive advantages in invasive mosquitoes are supported by both physiological and genetic factors.

## Abstract

An understanding of the traits that favour biological invasions has been considered to be an essential step in predicting which species would become successful invaders. Classical approaches test for differences between invasive versus non-invasive species and emphasize reproduction as a critical phenotype for successful establishment of an invasive species. However, cross-species comparisons underestimate intra-species differences, which may be relevant in species with complex invasion histories.

We capitalize on the well-characterized invasion history of the arboviral vector Aedes albopictus, which has resulted in genetically distinct native, old and invasive populations, and compared the reproductive capacity (fertility and fecundity), development (timing of egg hatching, oviposition patterns and egg hatching) and physiology (blood digestion and nutrient movement during oogenesis) across populations.

The results show that invasive populations are larger in size compared to the Ae. albopictus reference Foshan population and have a higher reproductive output than both an old population and the reference Foshan population. The higher reproductive capacity of invasive mosquitoes has both a physiological and genetic basis, and is accompanied by hybrid vigour, albeit at varying degrees across populations.

These findings highlight population-level differences in reproductive traits of Ae. albopictus populations that may be associated with their invasion success.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-025-07235-7.