County, Nature Conservancy team up for study to reduce methoprene use and increase marsh resilience

The Nature Conservancy has taken the lead on a program to study mosquito larvae in Accabonac Harbor with the aim of reducing the spraying of the chemical methoprene to control mosquitoes. The Conservancy's efforts are also intended to garner information to determine what needs to be done to protect and strengthen the marsh to deal with the effects of climate change, including erosion from rising sea levels. The Conservancy has committed money and staff to oversee the study, which will include a weekly count of mosquito larvae in Accabonac, the reasons for why and where the insects flourish, and an assessment of erosion and other destruction wrought by climate change. The planned mosquito larvae testing is more expansive than any previously undertaken. The data will be compiled and shared with Suffolk County Vector Control officials to help the agency make the most informed decisions about when and where to spray methoprene. It is expected that with more data the county can limit spraying to larvae hot spots. Additionally, the county and the conservancy believe the causes of some larvae hot spots — standing water due to obstructions in the marsh — can be addressed to reduce or eliminate prime larvae habitat and further reduce the use of methoprene. All this is a positive development, driven by the Conservancy, County Legislator Bridget Fleming, and Suffolk County Vector Control. While no one is talking about an end to methoprene use, which we will continue to push for, these are big steps in the right direction (in the opinion of those of us who launched this petition).