What animals are primarily involved in the natural transmission cycle of La Crosse virus?

The primary animals involved in the natural transmission cycle of La Crosse virus are small mammals and the Aedes triseriatus mosquito. La Crosse virus is an arbovirus that is most commonly associated with the eastern United States and is primarily transmitted through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes.

Small mammals, particularly squirrels and chipmunks, serve as the main reservoir hosts for the virus. These mammals can harbor the virus without exhibiting any significant illness, allowing them to efficiently maintain the virus in the environment. The Aedes triseriatus mosquitoes play a crucial role in the mosquito-host transmission cycle, as they feed on the blood of these infected small mammals, thereby acquiring the virus and potentially transmitting it to humans during their subsequent blood meals.

In contrast, the other options involve incorrect associations of host and mosquito species that are not relevant to the cycle of La Crosse virus. Understanding this specific relationship between the reservoir hosts and the vector is essential for recognizing the ecological dynamics of this particular virus's transmission, which differs from other arboviruses.