Laboratory of Insect Evolutionary Biology

Referent: Ludvik Gomulski

Co-workers: Giulia Fiorenza, Sara Soldano, Daniel De Luca

The Asian Tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, is a highly invasive species and an important vector of arboviruses including dengue, chikungunya and Zika. The success of Ae. albopictus is favoured by its ability to readily adapt to new environments, to breed in artificial containers and its opportunistic and catholic feeding habits.
Climate change has facilitated the expansion of Ae. albopictus into new regions while simultaneously increasing aridity in many already infested areas. This shift affects the availability of breeding sites, often leading to heightened larval competition.
Our research focuses on how larval rearing densities influence the metabolism, phenotype, physiology, and behaviour of adult mosquitoes. By examining these factors, we aim to understand the trade-offs and alternative life history strategies that adults adopt in response to larval conditions, and how these adaptations may impact their capacity to spread disease.