Laboratory transmission of Jamestown Canyon and snowshoe hare viruses (Bunyaviridae: California serogroup) by several species of mosquitoes.

The ability of 14 species of mosquitoes to biologically transmit Jamestown Canyon virus was tested. Four species not previously described as vectors of that virus transmitted to suckling mice. Among membrane-fed mosquitoes with disseminated infections, field-collected Aedes canadensis (1/3), Anopheles punctipennis (1/12), Coquillettidia perturbans (2/14) and a laboratory strain of Ae. epactius (19/67) transmitted virus. Two species were tested for their ability to transmit snowshoe hare virus: field-collected Ae. provocans (4/20) and Ae. abserratus-punctor (2/20) successfully transmitted to suckling mice. Evidence regarding the role of these species as field vectors is summarized.