Electrophysiological and behavioural response of Aedes albopictus to n‐heinecosane,an ovipositional pheromone of Aedes aegypti

Aedes aegypti (L.) and Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae) are highly anthropophilic mosquito species and potential vectors of dengue and yellow fever. The location of suitable sites for oviposition requires a set of visual, tactile, and olfactory cues that influence females before they lay their eggs. In this study, the effect of n‐heneicosane, a recognized oviposition pheromone of Ae. aegypti, on the olfactory receptors of the antennae of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus was studied using electroantennographic detection coupled to gas chromatography (GC‐EAD). A significant electroantennographic response to n‐heneicosane in adult females of both mosquito species was observed. In addition, gravid Ae. albopictus females laid more eggs in substrate treated with n‐heneicosane at 0.1, 1, or 10 p.p.m. than in the control, denoting oviposition attractancy. Conversely, at 30, 50, 100, and 200 p.p.m., more eggs were laid in the control substrate, indicating oviposition repellency. Analysis of the larval cuticle by GC and mass spectrometry confirmed the presence of n‐heneicosane in the cuticles of Ae. albopictus larvae. The species‐specific role of n‐heneicosane as an oviposition pheromone in Ae. aegypti and its significance as a behaviour modifier of Ae. albopictus in breeding sites is discussed.     

Oviposition substrate selection by Florida mosquitoes in response to pathogen‐infected conspecific larvae

The impact of the presence of larval mosquito pathogens with potential for biological control on oviposition choice was evaluated for three mosquito species/pathogen pairs present in Florida. These included Aedes aegypti infected with Edhazardia aedis, Aedes albopictus infected with Vavraia culicis, and Culex quinquefasciatus infected with Culex nigripalpus nucleopolyhedrovirus (CuniNPV). Two‐choice oviposition bioassays were performed on each host and pathogen species with one oviposition cup containing infected larvae and the other cup containing uninfected larvae (control). Both uninfected and E. aedis‐infected female Ae. aegypti laid significantly fewer eggs in oviposition cups containing infected larvae. Uninfected gravid female Ae. albopictus and Cx. quinquefasciatus oviposited equally in cups containing uninfected larvae or containing larvae infected with V. culicis or CuniNPV, respectively. Gravid female Ae. albopictus infected with V. culicis did not display ovarian development and did not lay eggs. The decreased oviposition by gravid Ae. aegypti in containers containing E. aedis‐infected larvae may indicate that the infected larvae produce chemicals deterring oviposition.     

Oviposition habitat selection by container‐dwelling mosquitoes: responses to cues of larval and detritus abundances in the field

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Oviposition by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus: Influence of congeners and of oviposition site characteristics

We investigated the oviposition behavior of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus. In particular we examined whether small‐scale site characteristics and the presence of conspecifics or congeners altered oviposition by these mosquitoes. Various combinations of females of the two species were allowed to oviposit inside cages among either vegetation (potted plants) or structural components (wood and concrete blocks). Numbers of eggs deposited per female were compared between species, sides, and treatments. Most significant differences between treatments and species involved differences between single species and mixed species treatments. Ae. aegypti deposited more eggs/female in the vegetation side than in the structure side whereas the opposite pattern was evident for Ae. albopictus. Ae. aegypti females had higher frequency of skip oviposition than Ae. albopictus. An average of 63% of the containers in the two‐species treatments contained eggs of both species, with more frequent joint occurrences observed in the treatment with three females of each species than in the treatments with one of each. Our results point to the existence of various interactions between gravid Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus females at or near the oviposition sites but further experimental work is necessary to fully characterize the interactions and their specific mechanisms.     

Effects of forest canopy on habitat selection in treefrogs and aquatic insects: implications for communities and metacommunities

The specific dispersal/colonization strategies used by species to locate and colonize habitat patches can strongly influence both community and metacommunity structure. Habitat selection theory predicts nonrandom dispersal to and colonization of habitat patches based on their quality. We tested whether habitat selection was capable of generating patterns of diversity and abundance across a transition of canopy coverage (open and closed canopy) and nutrient addition by investigating oviposition site choice in two treefrog species (Hyla) and an aquatic beetle (Tropisternus lateralis), and the colonization dynamics of a diverse assemblage of aquatic insects (primarily beetles). Canopy cover produced dramatic patterns of presence/absence, abundance, and species richness, as open canopy ponds received 99.5% of propagules and 94.6% of adult insect colonists. Nutrient addition affected only Tropisternus oviposition, as females oviposited more egg cases at higher nutrient levels, but only in open canopy ponds. The behavioral partitioning of aquatic landscapes into suitable and unsuitable habitats via habitat selection behavior fundamentally alters how communities within larger ecological landscapes (metacommunities) are linked by dispersal and colonization.     

The role of priority effects in limiting the success of the invasive tiger mosquito,Aedes albopictus

Priority effects (PE), wherein species colonizing a habitat early have a negative impact on later colonizers, can have profound and legacy effects on community organization. In temperate zones, larval mosquito habitats are emptied each year in the winter and recolonized in the spring. There are phenological differences among common species but the role of PE in these communities is largely unexplored. Aedes albopictus, the invasive tiger mosquito, is considered a superior competitor to resident species during the larval phase when conditions are initiated with same-staged heterospecific larvae. However in nature, Ae. albopictus hatches, and resumes activity, later in the spring than other species, suggesting it encounters larger later developed individuals, and denser populations, of species such as Aedes triseriatus. Additionally, despite their competitive inferiority, these species often coexist with Ae. albopictus in larval habitats, with Ae. albopictus often occurring at relatively low abundances in sylvan habitats. Using lab and near field experiments, we tested the hypothesis that PE with early hatching species reduces survivorship and population growth for the invasive Ae. albopictus. When Ae. albopictus larvae encountered larger, later developed heterospecific larvae at greater densities, under controlled lab conditions and in artificial and natural mesocosms, they experienced significant reductions in survival and estimated finite rate of population increase. Additionally, we found that intraguild predation of Ae. triseriatus on Ae. albopictus may be an important mechanism through which PE works. We conclude that PE is a potential mechanism for coexistence between invasive and resident mosquitoes and should be further explored.

     

Horizontal distribution affects the vertical distribution of native and invasive container‐inhabiting Aedes mosquitoes within an urban landscape

The vertical dimension constitutes an important niche axis along which mosquitoes may adjust their distribution. Here, we evaluated whether the vertical distribution of container‐inhabiting Aedes mosquitoes differs along a gradient of anthropogenic land‐use intensity within an urban landscape. Using a pulley system, we hung oviposition cups at three heights (ground level, 4.5, and 9 m) and in three habitats: forest, park, and a built environment. We hypothesized that mosquito abundance and diversity would be highest in the least disturbed forest habitat, decrease in the park, and be lowest at the UNC‐Greensboro campus. We also expected Aedes albopictus (Skuse) and Ae. triseriatus (Say) to mainly oviposit at ground level and Ae. hendersoni (Cockerell) at canopy height. Aedes albopictus was the most common species (68.8%) collected in all three habitat types and was the only species found in the built environment. In that habitat, Ae. albopictus exhibited a bimodal distribution with the lowest activity at the intermediate height (4.5 m). Aedes triseriatus (28.9%) did not differ in egg abundance between the forest and park habitats but did exhibit diverse vertical habitat use while avoiding the canopy in the park habitat. Aedes hendersoni (2.3%) was the most sylvatic species and oviposited only at ground level. Our results indicate that the vertical distribution of mosquitoes is affected by the type of habitat in which they occur, and that this variation could be driven via local‐scale modification of microclimatic factors.     

Aedes albopictus oviposits with other Aedes species in artificial oviposition cups: a case study in Knox County,Tennessee, U.S.A.

Interspecific associations between two mosquito species can lead to effects such as competition, species displacement, and species stability. To better understand Aedes albopictus (Skuse) and other Aedes species, we monitored eggs in artificial oviposition cups (ovitraps) within Knox County, TN, U.S.A., during the 2016 and 2017 mosquito seasons. In 2016, one black and one white ovitrap were placed at 18 sites for 21 weeks, while in 2017 black and white ovitraps baited with grass‐infused or deionized water were placed at 11 sites for nine weeks. Eggs were identified to species and resulting counts were used to determine the degree of interspecific association using Cole's coefficients (C₇) and the degree of heterogeneity across space and time using generalized linear mixed models (GLMM). Here, Aedes mosquitoes are generally ovipositing in black cups with grass‐infused water, and Ae. albopictus eggs co‐occurred with other Aedes species more often than would be expected. Finding a positive significant interspecific association between Ae. albopictus and other Aedes eggs suggests that methods used to control Ae. albopictus may also control other Aedes mosquitoes. Finding that Ae. albopictus co‐occurs with other Aedes mosquitoes warrants additional research to evaluate outcomes associated with co‐occurrence within the study area.     

Why are Aedes mosquitoes rare colonisers of Nepenthes pitcher plants?

1. Nepenthes pitcher plants produce fluid‐containing animal traps that are colonised by a variety of specialised arthropods, especially dipterans. However, container‐breeding vector mosquitoes, such as Aedes albopictus Skuse have rarely been recorded from pitchers. Increasing overlap in the geographical ranges of Nepenthes and Ae. albopictus in urban parts of Southeast Asia owing to urbanisation highlights a growing need to investigate the potential role of pitchers as larval habitats for vector mosquitoes. 2. The ability of Ae. albopictus larvae to survive in three common lowland Nepenthes in Peninsular Malaysia that are most likely to co‐occur with Ae. albopictus [viz., Nepenthes ampullaria Jack, Nepenthes gracilis Korth., and Nepenthes mirabilis (Lour.) Druce] was investigated. 3. The larval survival rates of Ae. albopictus in pitcher fluids of the three Nepenthes species were determined, then the effects of low pH, larvicidal agents (such as microbes, predators, and chemical compounds) through manipulative experiments were investigated. 4. It was found that pitchers represent a hostile environment to Ae. albopictus, but that the principal cause of larval mortality varies among Nepenthes species (i.e. low fluid pH in N. gracilis, predation by Toxorhynchites acaudatus Leicester larvae in N. ampullaria, and microbial activity in N. mirabilis). It was concluded that Nepenthes pitchers are generally not suitable larval habitats for Ae. albopictus. However, the pitcher environment of N. ampullaria is worthy of further study, as pitchers that lack predators are nevertheless rarely colonised by Ae. albopictus, indicating that other aspects of the host pitcher environment inhibit oviposition or larval survivorship.     

The mosquitoes of eastern Tennessee: studies on abundance,habitat preferences,and host‐seeking behaviors

A significant increase in the number of reported cases of La Crosse virus (LACV) infections in eastern Tennessee has occurred in the last ten years. The objective of this study was to determine the abundance and habitat preferences of the potential vectors of LACV in this region. Adult host‐seeking mosquitoes were collected using CO₂‐baited CDC light traps and a series of human‐landing catches in eastern Tennessee from 2004 to 2006. A total of 4,200 female mosquitoes of 23 species was collected by CO₂‐baited CDC trapping at ten sites during the study period. Aedes albopictus (Skuse) was the most abundant mosquito collected at all sites and vegetation types, with the ratios of total Ae. albopictus to Ae. triseriatus (Say) females collected being 2.1:1 in 2004, 3.8:1 in 2005, and 4.9:1 in 2006. Ten species were collected during a series of human‐landing catches made at four different sites; one probable and three confirmed case sites of LACV infections, totaling 528 female mosquitoes. Aedes albopictus was the most abundant species collected, with a 4:1 ratio of Ae. albopictus to Ae. triseriatus females. Aedes albopictus exhibited two clear peaks of “landing” activity, one in the early morning and one in the late afternoon or early evening. Simple and multiple regression analyses of the predictors of the number of mosquitoes collected showed that populations of Ae. albopictus were three times more likely to be collected overall than Ae. triseriatus. Species (Ae. albopictus), vegetation (residential), and the previous cumulative precipitation for the four weeks prior to collection were significantly (P < 0.05) associated with the number of mosquitoes collected by CO₂‐baited CDC trapping. Aedes albopictus was also more likely to be collected than Ae. triseriatus at confirmed cases of LACV infections.     

The effects of simulated rainfall on immature population dynamics of Aedes albopictus and female oviposition

Larvae of Aedes albopictus Skuse typically inhabit natural and artificial containers. Since these larval habitats are replenished by rainfall, Ae. albopictus may experience increased loss of immature stages in areas with high levels of rainfall. In this study, we investigated the effects of rainfall and container water level on population density, and oviposition activity of Ae. albopictus. In field and laboratory experiments, we found that rainfall resulted in the flushing of breeding habitats. Excess rain negatively impacted larval and pupal retention, especially in small habitats. When filled with water to overflowing, container habitats were significantly repellent to ovipositing females. Taken together, these data suggest that rainfall triggers population loss of Ae. albopictus and related species through a direct detrimental effect (flushing out) and an indirect effect (ovipositional repellency).     

Influence of resource levels,organic compounds and laboratory colonization on interspecific competition between the Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus (Stegomyia albopicta) and the southern house mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus

The mosquitoes Aedes albopictus (Stegomyia albopicta) (Skuse) and Culex quinquefasciatus (Say) (Diptera: Culicidae) are common inhabitants of tyres and other artificial containers, which constitute important peridomestic mosquito breeding habitats. We tested the hypotheses that interspecific resource competition between the larvae of these species is asymmetrical, that the concentration of chemicals associated with decomposing detritus affects the competitive outcomes of these species, and that wild and colonized strains of Cx. quinquefasciatus are affected differently by competition with Ae. albopictus. We conducted two laboratory competition experiments wherein we measured survivorship and estimated population growth (λ′) in both species under multiple mixed‐species densities. Under varying resource levels, competition was asymmetrical: Ae. albopictus caused competitive reductions or exclusions of Cx. quinquefasciatus under conditions of limited resources. In a second experiment, which used both wild and colonized strains of Cx. quinquefasciatus, organic chemical compounds associated with decomposing detritus did not affect the competitive outcome. The colonized strain of Cx. quinquefasciatus had greater survivorship and adult mass, and faster development times than the wild strain, but both strains were similarly affected by competition with Ae. albopictus. Competition between these species may have important consequences for vector population dynamics, especially in areas in which tyres and artificial containers constitute the majority of mosquito breeding habitats.     

Differential responses to predator cues between two mosquito species breeding in different habitats

1. Natural selection favours females who can correctly assess the predation risk and hence avoid high‐risk oviposition sites and reduce the mortality rate of their offspring. In spite of the potential significance of such behaviour, relatively few studies have assessed the relationship between oviposition behaviour and predation risk. 2. The present study aimed to determine the sublethal effects of predators on oviposition site selection by gravid females, the foraging activity of larvae, and the life history traits of two mosquito species that breed in different habitats, Aedes albopictus Skuse (container breeder) and Culex tritaeniorhynchus Giles (wetland breeder). 3. Female C. tritaeniorhynchus avoided laying eggs at oviposition sites in the presence of a predator cue. In contrast, female A. albopictus laid eggs in both the absence and presence of the predator cue. 4. To examine the effects of predator cues on larval behaviour, experiments were conducted in the absence and presence of a predator cue. Although larval activity was lower in the presence of the predator cue than that in its absence in both species, C. tritaeniorhynchus responded to the predator cue more strongly than A. albopictus. Female A. albopictus that had been reared with caged predators exhibited an extended larval development period, whereas the adult C. tritaeniorhynchus reared in the presence of predators were smaller than those reared in their absence. 5. This finding might explain why C. tritaeniorhynchus avoid laying eggs in predator‐conditioned water, for example to increase the fitness of their offspring, but A. albopictus either cannot detect predator cues or are not sensitive to them.     

Ecological interactions in Aedes species on Reunion Island

Two invasive, container‐breeding mosquito species, Aedes aegypti (Stegomyia aegypti) and Aedes albopictus (Stegomyia albopicta) (Diptera: Culicidae), have different distribution patterns on Reunion Island. Aedes albopictus occurs in all areas and Ae. aegypti colonizes only some restricted areas already occupied by Ae. albopictus. This study investigates the abiotic and biotic ecological mechanisms that determine the distribution of Aedes species on Reunion Island. Life history traits (duration of immature stages, survivorship, fecundity, estimated finite rate of increase) in Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus were compared at different temperatures. These fitness measures were characterized in both species in response to competitive interactions among larvae. Aedes aegypti was drastically affected by temperature, performing well only at around 25 °C, at which it achieved its highest survivorship and greatest estimated rate of increase. The narrow distribution of this species in the field on Reunion Island may thus relate to its poor ability to cope with unfavourable temperatures. Aedes aegypti was also more negatively affected by high population densities and to some extent by interactions with Ae. albopictus, particularly in the context of limited food supplies. Aedes albopictus exhibited better population performance across a range of environmental conditions. Its ecological plasticity and its superior competitive ability relative to its congener may further enhance its invasion success on Reunion Island.     

Aquatain AMF efficacy on juvenile mosquito stages in control of Culex pipiens complex and Aedes albopictus

Aquatain^® mosquito formulation (AMF) is a silicone-based monomolecular film, which has recently been approved for use in the European Union. The physical mode of action based on lowering water surface tension prevents mosquito larvae/pupae respiration. Additionally, AMF disables gravid females from landing on the water surface and obstructs the natural oviposition process. Due to multistage effects on mosquitoes, AMF could be a product of choice for defined water body and container breeders such as Culex pipiens L. complex, principal vector of West Nile virus in Europe, and the invasive Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (both Diptera: Culicidae), vector of dengue and chikungunya viruses. The primary objectives of this study were to evaluate the efficacy of AMF, to determine the susceptibility of the immature forms of C. pipiens and A. albopictus, and the persistence/longevity of the product to suppress the eclosion of adults. AMF achieved high mortality rates of juvenile A. albopictus and C. pipiens under laboratory conditions. However, in the field C. pipiens larvae showed higher susceptibility to AMF than A. albopictus. Pupae of the two mosquito species were highly susceptible to the presence of AMF. When C. pipiens juveniles were exposed to AMF in the wild, effects lasted for 21 days in densely covered water bodies and 56 days in water recipients with less vegetation. In both breeding sites, natural habitat and artificial water recipient, the two mosquito species with high impact on public health in Europe could successfully be suppressed by application of AMF (1 ml m⁻²).     

Variability of intra- and interspecific competitions of bamboo stump mosquito larvae over small and large spatial scales

We carried out field experiments to examine the variability of interspecific competition of mosquito larvae among microcosms in a bamboo grove (small spatial scale) and between bamboo groves at two sites, with single and multiple mosquito species (large spatial scale). Four types of microcosms that differed in capacity and litter input were set. In the hillside bamboo grove, where multiple species occurred, succession of the predominant species from Aedes albopictus to Tripteroides bambusa was observed in control microcosms from which no mosquito larvae were removed. Weekly removal of competitive species resulted in increased pupation of A. albopictus and adult body weight under both rich and poor resource conditions. In the late period of the experiments, the effect of competitor removal on pupation of A. albopictus was greater in deep containers that never dried than in shallow containers that were dried in the laboratory. The number of eggs showed a slight difference between competitor‐excluded and deep control microcosms. These results indicate that interspecific competition limits pupation of A. albopictus more strongly in deep containers than in shallow and drought‐prone containers.
Compared with the hillside site, the larval density of A. albopictus attained a higher density in the bamboo grove in the plain where no competitive species occurred, due to a higher oviposition rate. Lower rate of pupation and lower adult weight at the plain site than at the hillside site indicated that resource limitation was more severe at the plain site. Populations of A. albopictus at hillside and plain sites appeared to suffer from strong inter‐ and intraspecific competition, respectively. At the hillside site, the intensity of interspecific competition appeared to increase later in the breeding season, with a high larval density of T. bambusa. In contrast, at the plain site, intensity of intraspecific competition appeared to be reduced later in the breeding season with decreasing larval density of A. albopictus.     

Geographic and ecological distribution of the dengue and chikungunya virus vectors Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in three major Cameroonian towns

Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) was first reported in Central Africa in 2000, together with the indigenous mosquito species Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae). Because Ae. albopictus can also transmit arboviruses, its introduction is a public health concern. We undertook a comparative study in three Cameroonian towns (Sahelian domain: Garoua; equatorial domain: Douala and Yaoundé) in order to document infestation by the two species and their ecological preferences. High and variable levels of pre‐imaginal Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus infestation were detected. Only Ae. aegypti was encountered in Garoua, whereas both species were found in Douala and Yaoundé, albeit with significant differences in their relative prevalence. Peridomestic water containers were the most strongly colonized and productive larval habitats for both species. No major differences in types of larval habitat were found, but Ae. albopictus preferentially bred in containers containing plant debris or surrounded by vegetation, whereas Ae. aegypti tended to breed in containers located in environments with a high density of buildings. These findings may have important implications for vector control strategies.     

Successional mosquito dynamics in surrogate treehole and ground‐container habitats in the northeastern United States: Where does Aedes albopictus fit in?

This study assessed the risk of larval displacement of the eastern treehole mosquito, Aedes triseriatus, and the northern house mosquito, Culex pipiens, by Aedes albopictus, the Asian tiger mosquito, during the establishment and successional stages of novel larval mosquito treehole and ground‐container habitats in the state of New Jersey, U.S.A. Culex pipiens and Culex restuans were the first mosquito species to colonize ground‐container habitats and were the dominant larval species throughout the study period, whereas Ae. albopictus was late to colonize ground habitats and accounted for less than 15% of weekly larval collections once established. Ae. albopictus had a much stronger community presence within treehole ovitraps; however, Ae. albopictus never reached the average larval densities of the expected primary colonizer, Ae. triseriatus. Throughout the study period, the weekly abundances of Ae. triseriatus and Ae. albopictus were positively correlated and there were no significant differences between the abundances of each species. The larval dominance of Ae. triseriatus appears to be enhanced by the presence of Toxorhynchites rutilus septentrionalis, a large predatory mosquito species. When Tx. rut. septentrionalis was present, mature larvae (3^rd–4^th instar) of Ae. albopictus were also present in only 16.7% of collections, whereas mature larvae of Ae. triseriatus were collected concurrently with Tx. rut. septentrionalis in 53.8% of collections. These data suggest that Ae. triseriatus is at a greater risk of displacement by Ae. albopictus than are Cx. pipiens and Cx. restuans.     

Oviposition habitat selection in response to risk of predation in temporary pools: mode of detection and consistency across experimental venue

Natural selection should favor females that avoid ovipositing where risk of predation is high for their progeny. Despite the large consequences of such oviposition behavior for individual fitness, population dynamics, and community structure, relatively few studies have tested for this behavior. Moreover, these studies have rarely assessed the mode of detection of predators, compared responses in prey species that vary in vulnerability to predators, or tested for the behavior in natural habitats. In an outdoor artificial pool experiment, we tested the oviposition responses of two dipteran species, Culiseta longiareolata (mosquito) and Chironomus riparius (midge), to the hemipteran predator, Notonecta maculata. Both dipteran species have similar life history characteristics, but Culiseta longiareolata larvae are highly vulnerable to predation by Notonecta, while Chironomus riparius larvae are not. As their vulnerabilities would suggest, Culiseta longiareolata, but not Chironomus riparius, strongly avoided ovipositing in pools containing Notonecta. An experiment in natural rock pools assessing oviposition by Culiseta longiareolata in response to Notonecta maculata yielded an oviposition pattern highly consistent with that of the artificial pool experiment. We also demonstrated that the cue for oviposition avoidance by Culiseta longiareolata was a predator-released chemical: Notonecta water (without Notonecta replenishment) repelled oviposition for 8 days. Oviposition avoidance and mode of detection of the predator have important implications for how to assess the true impact of predators and for the use of commercially produced kairomones for mosquito control.     

Wolbachia modulates Chikungunya replication in Aedes albopictus

The Aedes albopictus mosquito has been involved as the principal vector of recent major outbreaks due to the chikungunya virus (CHIKV). The species is naturally infected by two strains of Wolbachia (wAlbA and wAlbB). Wolbachia infections are thought to have spread by manipulating the reproduction of their hosts; cytoplasmic incompatibility is the mechanism used by Wolbachia to invade natural populations of many insects including Ae. albopictus. Here, we report a study on the effects of removing Wolbachia from Ae. albopictus on CHIKV replication and examine the consequences of CHIKV infection on some life‐history traits (survival and reproduction) of Wolbachia‐free Ae. albopictus. We found that Wolbachia‐free mosquitoes maintained a highly heterogeneous CHIKV replication compared to Wolbachia‐infected individuals. In Wolbachia‐infected Ae. albopictus, the regular increase of CHIKV followed by a steady viral load from day 4 post‐infection onwards was concomitant with a decline in Wolbachia density. This profile was also detected when examining the two key organs for viral transmission, the midgut and the salivary glands. Moreover, Wolbachia‐free Ae. albopictus was not altered in life‐history traits such as survival, oviposition and hatching characteristics whether infected or not with CHIKV. We found that Wolbachia is not essential for viral replication, its presence could lead to optimize replication from day 4 post‐infection onwards, coinciding with a decrease in Wolbachia density. Wolbachia may regulate viral replication in Ae. albopictus, with consequences on survival and reproduction.