Climate Adaptation and Genetic Differentiation in the Mosquito Species Culex tarsalis

The increasing prevalence of vector-borne diseases around the world highlights the pressing need for an in-depth exploration of the genetic and environmental factors that shape the adaptability and widespread distribution of mosquito populations. This research focuses on Culex tarsalis, a principal vector for various viral diseases including West Nile Virus (WNV) and Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE), predominantly encountered in the western United States. Through the development of a new reference genome and the examination of Restriction-Site Associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq) data from over 300 individuals from 28 varied locations, we reveal the intricate relationship between genetic variation and adaptation to environmental pressures.