True or False: When tree hole mosquitoes bite small mammals, they can become infected with la crosse encephalitis virus.

Tree hole mosquitoes, specifically those of the genus Aedes, can indeed transmit viruses like the La Crosse encephalitis virus when they bite small mammals. This is significant because the virus can be maintained in the environment through these small mammals, which act as reservoirs. These mosquitoes have a particular preference for breeding in tree holes or similar natural containers, where they can encounter their hosts. When these mosquitoes feed on the blood of infected small mammals, they can acquire the virus and subsequently transmit it to other hosts when they bite again. This cycle of transmission is a critical aspect of the ecology of La Crosse encephalitis.

The assertion that only larger mammals would be involved or that they do not transmit viruses does not hold true in this context, as the focus is specifically on small mammals being capable of harboring and spreading the virus. Therefore, the statement is indeed true.