Two mosquito species in America have been engaged in a battle for dominance for the past 30 years:
the native Aedes aegypti
and the invasive Aedes albopictus -- also known as the Asian tiger mosquito
The tiger mosquito has a distinct competitive advantage
Male Aedes albopictus are really good at wooing female Aedes aegypti
The resultant interspecies mating permanently sterilizes the female, effectively ending her reproductive future
But Aedes aegypti are evolving the ability to resist the advances of Aedes albopictus
Although this is good news for Aedes aegypti
the outlook is darker for humans, as Aedes aegypti are key transmitters of diseases like Zika and dengue fever
Researchers have now started to uncover the genetic changes tied to this resistance
Uncovering the molecular correlates governing mosquito mating preferences could lead to better control strategies
and might help prevent future outbreaks of disease
Burford Reiskind, et al. Rapid evolution and the genomic consequences of selection against interspecific mating. (2018) Molecular Ecology