Determine the relationship between vegetation type and mosquito propagation. Researchers have suggested that mosquitoes prefer to breed in specific types of vegetation. If that were the case, routine mosquito surveillance and control programs could be conducted more effectively and at a lower cost by concentrating Vector Control efforts on those areas where the identified vegetation is more prevalent. The Early Action Project would be to identify the marsh plants associated with high concentrations of adult mosquitoes. The Project Team will field identify and map the plants associated with specific areas identified by the County as currently supporting high concentrations of adult mosquitoes.

Test the efficacy of various mosquito traps. Various commercial devices have been advertised for their ability to trap mosquitoes. The Team would prepare and implement methods for testing these devices in the field under various weather conditions. The most effective traps could be used as part of other Early Action Projects.

Examine mosquito migration paths. Mosquitoes may follow defined migration paths from marshes to populated areas. Mosquito traps would be placed in concentric rings around marshes with high concentrations of mosquitoes to determine if migration paths exist and if so how they can be predicted. If migration paths could be documented, then mosquito traps may be used to intercept them. Marsh and weather conditions would be documented as part of the project along with counts by species of captured mosquitoes. If migration paths are confirmed and effective traps are available, then a series of traps would be field tested as a means of intercepting the mosquitoes.

Map and then examine at least one pilot area to determine if stormwater structures serve as important breeding sites for mosquitoes. This project would utilize various treatment techniques available for stormwater structures to control mosquito populations.

Design, in conjunction with current County efforts, a series of dry-deposition experiments for vector control chemicals that could be used to field-verify the modeled deposition rates to be conducted as part of Task 8. This project would be based on the literature search to determine the general reliability and credibility of dry deposition experiments.

Conduct a caged fish experiment, modified from the NYSDEC design presented during Scoping, to determine the acute toxicity of aerial mosquito control pesticides. Dr. McElroy has prepared and submitted a detailed outline of such a series of tests.

Determine if groundwater represents a significant pathway for the introduction of Vector Control pesticides to the estuaries. Suffolk County developed and field-tested a meter that measures and collects groundwater seepage into saltwater bodies. The device could collect samples for analysis in conjunction with dry deposition sampling, ambient surface water, and, potentially, biotic sampling. It would form the basis of a mass-balance fate-and-transport experiment for the chemicals of interest. The data would also be useful to determine the background impact of non-Vector Control pesticides.

Conduct a biomarker assay to determine the exposure of organisms to Vector Control chemicals. The results of the literature search will determine if such a project could be conducted in a timely and cost-effective manner to assist in the development of a management plan.