Project:

Barcoding the Biting Mysteries : Identifying Aedes Atlanticus and tormentor

Students:

Rimsha Abbasi Abbasi, Ange Berly Guillaume, Meriannys Moquete, Carlos Hernandez

School:

Westbury District,

Mentors:

Marie Bettina Fantal-Pinckombe

Abstract:

To track the mosquito population on Long Island, we monitor their breeding sites, seasonal activity, and species distribution in areas such as swamps and man-produced water sources, like buckets. Around April through October, mosquitoes are the most active and will feed outdoors by entering homes. Monitoring helps us in stopping the spread of mosquito-borne diseases like the West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). With many surveys conducted by the Suffolk County Department of Health Services since 1999, we have been able to warn people how to protect themselves. The Aedes mosquito tends to spread Chikungunya, Dengue, and Zika viruses that have led to many outbreaks in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and many others. Precautions have been established for when traveling to help reduce the risk of getting an infection. In Long Island, there are about 50 different species of mosquitoes such as the Culex pipiens (house mosquito) and various species in the aedes genus. Aedes tor

Poster:

Team samples: