Mating Competition.

Ten groups of five virgin males (aged 4 to 5 d) of epox^−/− and either epox^+/− or epox^+/+ (WT) genotypes were placed in 4.7-l buckets (mating cages) and allowed 5 h for acclimation. Heterozygous epox^+/− males were used to ensure that mating differences were not caused by the presence of the eCFP eye marker. Five WT virgin females (sugar-fed, aged 4 to 5 d) were added to each mating cage, and mosquitoes were allowed to mate for 48 h. Females were subsequently, blood fed, and 48 h after blood feeding were placed individually in oviposition vials. Eggs were counted and hatched, and larvae were scored for the presence of eCFP in the eyes. Progeny uniformly positive for eCFP was assigned to an epox^−/− father; progeny displaying both eCFP⁺ and eCFP⁻ eyes was assigned to an epox^+/− father.