Aedes vexans population genetics

Population Genetics of the Mosquito Aedes vexans

Aedes vexans (Meigen), vexans mosquito, is a species that prefers mammalian hosts and is a vector of West Nile virus. It is one of the most widespread pest mosquitoes in the world and in North America, it is common in southern Canada and is found throughout the continental United States. Despite the important of this mosquito no molecular population genetic studies have been conducted. Population structure of this species is being examined using DNA sequences of the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 (ND5) gene and nuclear ribosomal DNA first internal transcribed spacer region. Hopefully this research will provide insight into the dispersal capability of this species. Mosquito samples will also be examined for blood meal hosts using PCR of the mtDNA cyt B gene.

Publications

Szalanski, A.L., Carrie B. Owens, Jennifer A. Lewter, and Alberto B. Broce. Genetic Structure of Aedes vexans (Diptera: Culicidae) Populations from Central United States Based on Mitochondrial ND5 Sequences. Annals of the Entomological Society of America (accepted).

	Insect Genetics Laboratory Population Genetics of the Mosquito Aedes vexans Aedes vexans (Meigen), vexans mosquito, is a species that prefers mammalian hosts and is a vector of West Nile virus. It is one of the most widespread pest mosquitoes in the world and in North America, it is common in southern Canada and is found throughout the continental United States. Despite the important of this mosquito no molecular population genetic studies have been conducted. Population structure of this species is being examined using DNA sequences of the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 (ND5) gene and nuclear ribosomal DNA first internal transcribed spacer region. Hopefully this research will provide insight into the dispersal capability of this species. Mosquito samples will also be examined for blood meal hosts using PCR of the mtDNA cyt B gene. Publications Szalanski, A.L., Carrie B. Owens, Jennifer A. Lewter, and Alberto B. Broce. *Genetic Structure of Aedes vexans* (Diptera: Culicidae) Populations from Central United States Based on Mitochondrial ND5 Sequences. Annals of the Entomological Society of America (accepted).**