About Culex tarsalis Coquillett, 1896
Culex tarsalis, commonly called the Western Encephalitis Mosquito, is a mosquito species found across North America. This species has black and white banding on its legs. It is a major vector of Saint Louis encephalitis and Western equine encephalitis virus in the western United States, and it is also a confirmed vector of West Nile virus. In California's urban environments, the abundance of Culex tarsalis increases after rainfall. It has been identified as a potential vector not only for zoonotic viruses, but also for avian malaria parasites, specifically Plasmodium species that infect wild birds.
