Invasive leaf resources alleviate density dependence in the invasive mosquito, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aedes albopictus</Emphasis>

Interactions between invasive species can have important consequences for the speed and impact of biological invasions. Containers occupied by the invasive mosquito, Aedes albopictus Skuse, may be sensitive to invasive plants whose leaves fall into this larval habitat. To examine the potential for interactions between invasive leaf species and larval A. albopictus, we conducted a field survey of leaf material found with A. albopictus in containers in Palm Beach County, Florida and measured density dependent responses of A. albopictus larvae to two invasive and one native leaf species in laboratory experiments. We found increased diversity of leaf species, particularly invasive species, in areas further from the urbanized coast, and a significant positive association between the presence of Schinus terebinthifolious (Brazilian pepper) and the abundance of A. albopictus. In laboratory experiments, we determined that larval growth and survivorship were significantly affected by both larval density and leaf species which, in turn, resulted in higher population performance on the most abundant invasive species (Brazilian pepper) relative to the most abundant native species, Quercus virginiana (live oak). These results suggest invasive leaf species can alleviate density dependent reductions in population performance in A. albopictus, and may contribute to its invasion success and potential to spread infectious disease.     

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.     

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.

     

Assessment of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae) clutch size in wild and laboratory populations

Aedes albopictus (Skuse) is an invasive mosquito species found across the southern U.S. with range expansion into many northern states. Intra‐ and interspecific larval competition have been evaluated for Ae. albopictus with respect to subsequent adult size, immature and adult survivability, and its capacity to vector pathogens as an adult. However, limited data are available on egg production as related to larval rearing conditions. Because Ae. albopictus is a container‐inhabiting mosquito that oviposits in resource‐limited habitats, it is found under variable density‐dependent conditions. Therefore, we examined the impact of specific rearing conditions on Ae. albopictus clutch size and adult body size; comparing the egg production values and wing lengths from known developmental densities to those from field‐collected populations. Field populations varied significantly among collection sites in mean clutch size (23 to 46). These clutch sizes were comparable to the mean clutch sizes of females reared at the larval densities of nine (20 eggs) and three (53 eggs) larvae per 3 ml of water in the laboratory. Field populations experienced density‐dependent effects impacting adult mosquito size. Mosquitoes from the four sample sites had mean wing lengths of 1.99, 2.47, 2.51, and 2.54 mm, which were less than the mean wing length of mosquitoes reared at larval densities of three larvae per 3 ml of water (2.57 mm).     

Habitat quality favoured over familiarity: a rejection of natal habitat preference induction in the mosquito Aedes albopictus

1. Natal habitat preference induction (NHPI) is a behavioural phenomenon in which offspring show a change in preference in adult oviposition choice as a function of experience as an immature. 2. Although well known in certain systems, such as herbivorous insects, this behaviour has not been well studied in aquatic insects. 3. The container–breeding mosquito, Aedes albopictus (Skuse) was used to test if NHPI occurs in aquatic insects under natural conditions of two leaf species as a nutritive base (Juniperus virginiana L. and Quercus virginiana Mill) and two larval densities. 4. Significant effects of leaf species and density on adult mosquito attributes were found, with J. virginiana and low larval density associated with more, faster developing, larger and more fecund mosquitoes. However, no evidence for NHPI was found. Instead a canalised behavior was found that included spreading eggs between high– and low–quality oviposition choices in the same proportions regardless of larval experience.     

State‐wide survey of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Florida

Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are invasive mosquito species with geographic ranges that have oscillated within Florida since their presence was first documented. Local transmission of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses serves as evidence of the public health importance of these two species. It is important to have detailed knowledge of their distribution to aid in mosquito control efforts and understand the risk of arbovirus transmission to humans. Through a partnership involving the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Cooperative Extension Service and the Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory; the Florida Department of Health; and mosquito control agencies throughout Florida, a container mosquito surveillance program involving all life stages was launched in the summer of 2016 to detect the presence of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus. Results from this survey were mapped to provide a picture of the current known distribution of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus in Florida. Aedes aegypti and/or Ae. albopictus were detected in the 56 counties that were part of the survey. Only Aedes albopictus was detected in 26 counties, primarily in the panhandle region of Florida. The results of this work underscore the importance of maintaining container mosquito surveillance in a state where chikungunya, dengue, and Zika viruses are present and where there is continued risk for exotic arbovirus introductions.     

Crouching Tiger,Hidden Trouble: Urban Sources of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) Refractory to Source-Reduction

Our ultimate objective is to design cost-effective control strategies for Aedes albopictus, the Asian tiger mosquito, an important urban nuisance and disease vector that expanded worldwide during the last 40 years.  We conducted mosquito larval surveys from May through October 2009 in the City of Trenton, New Jersey, USA, while performing intensive monthly source-reduction campaigns that involved removing, emptying, or treating all accessible containers with larvicides and pupicides. We examined patterns of occurrence of Ae. albopictus and Culex pipiens, another urban mosquito, among different container types by comparing observed and expected number of positive containers of each type. Expected use was based on the relative frequency of each container type in the environment. Aedes albopictus larvae and pupae were found significantly more often than expected in medium volumes of water in buckets and plant saucers but were rarely collected in small volumes of water found in trash items such as discarded cups and cans. They were also absent from large volumes of water such as in abandoned swimming pools and catch basins, although we consistently collected Cx. pipiens from those habitats. The frequency of Ae. albopictus in tires indicated rapid and extensive use of these ubiquitous urban containers. Standard larval-based indices did not correlate with adult catches in BG-Sentinel traps, but when based only on Ae. albopictus key containers (buckets, plant saucers, equipment with pockets of water, and tires) they did. Although we found that only 1.2% of the 20,039 water-holding containers examined contained immature Ae. albopictus (5.3% if only key containers were counted), adult populations were still above nuisance action thresholds six times during the 2009 mosquito season. We conclude that in urban New Jersey, effective source reduction for Ae. albopictus control will require scrupulous and repeated cleaning or treatment of everyday use containers and extensive homeowner collaboration.     

Leaf species identity and combination affect performance and oviposition choice of two container mosquito species

Abstract 1. Resource diversity can be an important determinant of individual and population performance in insects. Fallen parts of plants form the nutritive base for many aquatic systems, including mosquito habitats, but the effect of plant diversity on mosquito production is poorly understood. 2. To determine the effects of diverse plant inputs on larval mosquitoes, experiments were conducted that examined how leaves of Vitis aestivalis, Quercus virginiana, Psychotria nervosa, and Nephrolepis exaltata affected the container species Aedes triseriatus and Aedes albopictus. 3. The hypothesis that leaf species have different effects on larval survival, growth, population performance, and oviposition choice of the two mosquito species was tested. The hypothesis that larval performance of A. albopictus responds additively to combinations of the four plant species was also tested. 4. Larval survival and growth differed among the four leaf species, and oviposition preference differed among the two leaf species examined. Measurements of population performance demonstrated significant variation between leaf treatments. Larval outcomes for A. albopictus were significantly affected by leaf combination, and the hypothesis of additivity could be rejected. 5. These results indicate that individual leaf species are important in determining the performance of container dwelling mosquitoes, which grow larger and survive better on mixed‐species resource than expected, based on an additive model of resource utilisation.     

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.     

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.     

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 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).     

Temporal Patterns of Abundance of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) and Mitochondrial DNA Analysis of Ae. albopictus in the Central African Republic

The invasive Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) was first reported in central Africa in 2000, in Cameroon, with the indigenous mosquito species Ae. aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae). Today, this invasive species is present in almost all countries of the region, including the Central African Republic (CAR), where it was first recorded in 2009. As invasive species of mosquitoes can affect the distribution of native species, resulting in new patterns of vectors and concomitant risk for disease, we undertook a comparative study early and late in the wet season in the capital and the main cities of CAR to document infestation and the ecological preferences of the two species. In addition, we determined the probable geographical origin of invasive populations of Ae. albopictus with two mitochondrial DNA genes, COI and ND5. Analysis revealed that Ae. aegypti was more abundant earlier in the wet season and Ae. albopictus in the late wet season. Used tyres were the most heavily colonized productive larval habitats for both species in both seasons. The invasive species Ae. albopictus predominated over the resident species at all sites in which the two species were sympatric. Mitochondrial DNA analysis revealed broad low genetic diversity, confirming recent introduction of Ae. albopictus in CAR. Phylogeographical analysis based on COI polymorphism indicated that the Ae. albopictus haplotype in the CAR population segregated into two lineages, suggesting multiple sources of Ae. albopictus. These data may have important implications for vector control strategies in central Africa.     

Effects of intraspecific larval competition on adult longevity in the mosquitoes Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus

Abstract Larval competition is common in container‐breeding mosquitoes. The impact of competition on larval growth has been thoroughly examined and findings that larval competition can lead to density‐dependent effects on adult body size have been documented. The effects of larval competition on adult longevity have been less well explored. The effects of intraspecific larval densities on the longevity of adults maintained under relatively harsh environmental conditions were tested in the laboratory by measuring the longevity of adult Aedes aegypti (L.) and Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae) that had been reared under a range of larval densities and subsequently maintained in high‐ or low‐humidity regimes (85% or 35% relative humidity [RH], respectively) as adults. We found significant negative effects of competition on adult longevity in Ae. aegypti, but not in Ae. albopictus. Multivariate analysis of variance suggested that the negative effect of the larval environment on the longevity of Ae. aegypti adults was most strongly associated with increased development time and decreased wing length as adults. Understanding how larval competition affects adult longevity under a range of environmental conditions is important in establishing the relationship between models of mosquito population regulation and epidemiological models of vector‐borne disease transmission.     

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.     

Nutritional quality of leaf detritus altered by elevated atmospheric CO2: effects on development of mosquito larvae

1. Populus tremuloides leaf litter was produced under elevated (ELEV = 720 ppm) and ambient (AMB = 360 ppm) atmospheric CO₂ conditions. Leaf chemical quality was significantly altered by CO₂ enrichment. ELEV leaves had significantly higher concentrations of phenolic compounds and lignins, and higher C : N ratios than AMB. 2. Leaf litter was incubated in a headwater stream for 14 days to become colonised by microorganisms; aquatic bacterial productivity was significantly lower on ELEV than on AMB leaf litter. Colonised leaves were fed to four species of detritivorous mosquito larvae to assess their survivorship and development rates. 3. Larval mortality was 2.2 times higher for Aedes albopictus fed ELEV litter when compared with AMB. Although mortality of A. triseriatus, A. aegypti and Armigeres subalbatus was not affected by treatment, larval development rate was delayed by 78, 25 and 27%, respectively, when fed ELEV litter. 4. Increased mosquito mortality and/or delayed larval development rates are more likely to have negative implications for food web structure and productivity in ecosystems where immature stages of mosquitoes are an important food source of predators.     

Prior Hydrologic Disturbance Affects Competition between Aedes Mosquitoes via Changes in Leaf Litter

Allochthonous leaf litter is often the main resource base for invertebrate communities in ephemeral water-filled containers, and detritus quality can be affected by hydrologic conditions. The invasive mosquito Aedes albopictus utilizes container habitats for its development where it competes as larvae for detritus and associated microorganisms with the native Aedes triseriatus. Different hydrologic conditions that containers are exposed to prior to mosquito utilization affect litter decay and associated water quality. We tested the hypothesis that larval competition between A. albopictus and A. triseriatus would be differentially affected by prior hydrologic conditions. Experimental microcosms provisioned with Quercus alba L. litter were subjected to one of three different hydrologic treatments prior to the addition of water and mosquito larvae: dry, flooded, and a wet/dry cycle. Interspecific competition between A. albopictus and A. triseriatus was mediated by hydrologic treatment, and was strongest in the dry treatment vs. the flooded or wet/dry treatments. Aedes triseriatus estimated rate of population change (λ'') was lowest in the dry treatment. Aedes albopictus λ'' was unaffected by hydrologic treatment, and was on average always increasing (i.e., > 1). Aedes triseriatus λ'' was affected by the interaction of hydrologic treatment with interspecific competition, and was on average declining (i.e., < 1.0), at the highest interspecific densities in the dry treatment. Dry treatment litter had the slowest decay rate and leached the highest concentration of tannin-lignin, but supported more total bacteria than the other treatments. These results suggest that dry conditions negatively impact A. triseriatus population performance and may result in the competitive exclusion of A. triseriatus by A. albopictus, possibly by reducing microbial taxa that Aedes species browse. Changing rainfall patterns with climate change are likely to affect competition between A. triseriatus and A. albopictus, probably enhancing negative competitive effects of A. albopictus on A. triseriatus in areas that experience drought.     

Forest canopy,water level,and biopesticide interact to determine oviposition habitat selection in Aedes albopictus

Understanding how interacting abiotic and biotic factors influence colonization rates into different habitat types is critical for both conserving and controlling species. For example, the rapid global spread of Asian tiger mosquitoes, Aedes albopictus, has reduced native species abundances and produced disease outbreaks. Fortunately, bacterial endospores of two Bacillus species (biospesticide) are highly lethal to Ae. albopictus larvae and have been commercially developed to reduce populations. Oviposition habitat selection is the first defense Ae. albopictus females possess against any control substance added to breeding sites, and considerable variation exists in their response to biopesticides. In a field experiment, I crossed the presence/absence of biopesticides, with two canopy (open, closed) and water (high, low) levels at 64 breeding sites, to examine if these interacted to influence oviposition site choice. Avoidance of biopesticide was most pronounced in closed canopy sites and those with low water levels, as all main effects and two‐way interactions influenced oviposition. Oviposition habitat selection represents a possible mechanism of resistance to biopesticides and other methods used to kill mosquito larvae. Future experiments examining how larval density and mortality modify these results should allow for more effective control of this highly invasive species.     

Effect of water depth on predation frequency by diving beetles on mosquito larvae prey

Diving behavior and its frequency may differ among species of mosquito larvae because of differences in predation pressure. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between water depth and predation frequency on two mosquito species, Culex tritaeniorhynchus (wetland breeder) and Aedes albopictus (container breeder), by the diving beetle Eretes griseus. Culex tritaeniorhynchus spends more time at the surface than A. albopictus, which spends more time thrashing underwater. When intact mosquito larvae of both species were present, the diving beetles consumed almost all A. albopictus larvae (98.3%). After all the A. albopictus larvae had been consumed, the diving beetles began to prey on C. tritaeniorhynchus. In order to compare the effect of position on the predation preference of the diving beetles, equal numbers of both species were heat‐killed and allowed to settle on the bottom of the container. When all the dead mosquito larvae had sunk to the bottom of a plastic container, the diving beetles caught both mosquito species at random. These results indicate that mosquito larvae near the surface were eaten less frequently by diving beetles than those at the bottom. The low diving frequency of C. tritaeniorhynchus is regarded as a form of anti‐predatory behavior.     

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.