On August 29th, the Conservancy welcomed the Suffolk County Vector Control team back to the island for their final mosquito control spray of the season. With dry weather and little rain in recent weeks, mosquito larvae numbers have been lower than usual. Still, the team conducted their scheduled spray to ensure community health and comfort.
During their visit, Vector Control staff collected water samples to check for mosquito larvae. Some were found in small pockets of standing water, particularly in items like buckets left outdoors where rainwater had collected. Examining these samples provided an important reminder: mosquitoes can breed in even the smallest amounts of standing water.
This shallow pool of water shows the kind of environment where mosquitoes thrive. Female mosquitoes lay their eggs on still water, and larvae hatch and develop there. While Suffolk County Vector Control monitors natural wetlands, in backyards the biggest problem often comes from containers like buckets, flowerpots, clogged gutters, and even bottlecaps.
Community tip: Empty and scrub containers that collect rainwater! This is one of the easiest and most effective ways to help stop mosquitoes before they start.
In this dipper sample, you can see mosquito larvae (sometimes called “wigglers”). They spend their early life in water, feeding on organic matter and surfacing to breathe. By sampling larvae, Vector Control can determine where mosquitoes are breeding and act early to prevent them from maturing into biting adults.
Here, a Vector Control specialist applies a treatment using a backpack sprayer. Suffolk County uses targeted, EPA-approved methods that include:
Larvicides (such as Bti, a natural bacterium) placed in standing water to eliminate larvae before they mature.
Adulticides sprayed in dense vegetation, where adult mosquitoes rest during the day, to reduce populations during peak biting season.
These methods are carefully managed to minimize impacts on non-target species while protecting public health.
The Suffolk County Vector Control team plays a critical role in keeping Fishers Island safe and comfortable during mosquito season. Their expertise, combined with community action (like reducing standing water) creates the best defense against mosquitoes.
We are grateful for this partnership and for the continued efforts to protect both our health and our environment.
To learn more about Suffolk County Vector Control’s work and methods, visit their official website.