Reproductive isolation between Florida strains of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus.

The dynamics of heterospecific and conspecific mating between Florida strains of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus was examined. In nonchoice experiments where conspecific males were not available, dissection of the spermathecae showed that heterospecific insemination was an infrequent event for both species combinations (10.6% for Ae, albopictus with Ae, aegypti males, 3,6% for the reciprocal cross). Few eggs were produced from heterospecific crosses and all were nonviable. Frequency of heterospecific mating was not increased when the hindtarsi of females were removed, eliminating a significant mechanism for fending off unwanted courtship