Microbiota modulation impacts life history traits and mating success in male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes

ABSTRACT Aedes aegypti mosquitoes transmit multiple arboviruses, but population suppression through the mass release of sterile or incompatible male mosquitoes can effectively reduce populations. These methods depend on the reliable mass-rearing of healthy, robust males that can successfully mate with wild females. The microbiota is a critical component of the larval diet, and its modulation can dramatically influence life history traits relevant to mass-rearing and male quality. Here, we used axenic (microbe-free), monoxenic (inoculated with Escherichia coli ), and “laboratory community” mosquitoes (inoculated with an undefined microbiota derived from laboratory mosquitoes) to show that longevity was significantly enhanced in axenic and monoxenic males compared to laboratory community males. Moreover, monoxenic males more efficiently obtained mates in non-competitive mating scenarios compared to laboratory community males. However, microbiota treatment had no effect on mating success when males from different treatments competed for a mate. Our findings suggest that the microbiota is a key determinant of male mosquito life history, with direct implications for optimizing production of males for control programs. IMPORTANCE The microbes found in association with mosquitoes are crucial to mosquito development and have the capacity to influence multiple life history traits. In the current study, we comprehensively and functionally evaluate the role of the microbiota in mating success and other life history traits of male mosquitoes. Males are crucial to disease transmission, via their role in mating, and via their use in mosquito population control. By focusing on males, the understudied sex in mosquito research, we provide novel and foundational insight into how microbial communities influence male life history traits and mating success. Moreover, our findings establish a critical framework for understanding how the microbiota may affect male quality, production efficiency, and performance in vector control programs that involve mass production of adult male mosquitoes.