Home News Local News Aerial larvicide applications continue in Suffolk, including locations on North Fork

Aerial larvicide applications continue in Suffolk, including locations on North Fork

Suffolk County vector control continues aerial larvicide applications to control mosquitoes in salt marshes across the county today and tomorrow, including locations in Southold and Riverhead towns.

Vector control division helicopters will conduct low altitude, large-droplet liquid application of Vectobac 12AS. The application will take place sometime between 5 a.m. and 8 p.m., according to a press release issued by the county health department yesterday afternoon.

Salt marshes in New Suffolk, Great Hog Neck and Pipes Cove in Southold Town and Overlook, Crescent Duck Farm, Aquebogue farm and Millar Farm in Riverhead Town are on the county’s list of locations scheduled for spraying.

The products used by Vector Control are registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and are applied in accordance with the required state and federal permits, the county health department said.

The agency said no precautions are recommended to prepare for this spraying, as the helicopter will be flying at a very low level over marsh areas and taking other precautions to control drift into inhabited areas. Human exposure from this operation is unlikely and the products involved have no significant human toxicity.

As of last week, 125 mosquito samples and 15 birds have tested positive for West Nile virus in Suffolk. No humans or horses have tested positive for the virus here this year.

No mosquito samples have tested positive for Zika virus in Suffolk County.

To reduce the mosquito population:

  • Remove all discarded tires on the property.
  •  Dispose of tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots or similar water-holding containers.
  •  Make sure roof gutters drain properly, and clean clogged gutters.
  • Turn over plastic wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use.
  •  Change the water in birdbaths and scrub the containers.
  •  Clean vegetation and debris from the edges of ponds and keep shrubs and grass trimmed.
  •  Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor saunas and hot tubs.
  •  Drain water from pool covers and scrub the covers.
  • Make sure all windows and doors have screens, and that all screens are in good repair.

For a full list of locations throughout Suffolk scheduled to be sprayed this week, visit the health department’s website.

For current and future notices and/or further information: Suffolk County Division of Vector Control 631-852-4270.

See the county’s vector control and wetlands management long-term plan here.

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Denise Civiletti
Denise is a veteran local reporter and editor, an attorney and former Riverhead Town councilwoman. Her work has been recognized with numerous awards, including a “writer of the year” award from the N.Y. Press Association in 2015. She is a founder, owner and co-publisher of this website.