Uncovering the tracks of a recent and rapid invasion: the case of the tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus in Europe.

Using different molecular markers we are attempting to infer from genetic data, the dynamic aspects of the invasion process of the tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus. We have different principal goals: 1) to confirm the Asian origin of this vector, 2) to analyse the distribution of genetic diversity within the invaded European and American areas, 3) to identify the route of migratory fluxes at micro- and macro- geographic levels, 4) to identify coding sequences that have been subject to population-specific selective pressures during this colonization process, 5) the creation of a data base of molecular markers across the species distribution range as a tool for traceability tests to infer the origin of new outbreaks. For these aims we are using different but complementary molecular markers (ITS2, SSRs and SNPs) to genotype mosquitoes from Asian, American and European populations. Results and perspectives will be presented.