The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-07-10

A
the females draw blood n The male
mosquito subsists generally uPon the
juices of flowers and decaying vegetable
matter So does the female IF blood
fails them. u But the female mosquito
has an abnormal thirst for mammalian
blood She seeks it with an avidity only
understood by those who have suffered
from her search, and she is provided
with a most admirable organ for its ex-
traction.
There is not IN all nature such an in
stance of wasted energy comparable
with that of the female mosquitoes thirst
for blood. 1t can procreate without salts
flying its ravenous appetite for blood,
but it seems to be a delight to the insect
to fill its gray, threadlike abdomen at
the price Of suffering humanity For
every one mosquito that gets the chance
to taste blood there are nearly million
that never taste it, and yet it would
seem that warm mammalian blood is a
necessity for their existence. 1t Is not.
They can live upon decaying vegetable
matter and flower juices, but the alb
normal blood thirst of the female needs
very salutary check before anything
like a satisfactory revolution can occur.
How this revolution is to be brought
about remains for scientists to explain,
and I do think that the scientists and
entOmologists Of Jersey should inquire
into the matter.
But more direct method appeals to
us than the deviation of the mosquitoes
natural propensity Nature itself has
shown to us this remedy, for in every
marsh where are bred mosquitoes we
find numberless dragon flies The drag
on fly feeds entirely upon other winged
insects, and his favorite delioacy is a fe-
male mosquito; hence nature causes
both the dragon fly and the mosquito to
come into existence upon the same farm
and in the same place. Unfortunately
the mosquito Is found in UNNECESSARILY
large numbers in these places, and the
dragon flies are comparatively few in
number. The question is, How are we to
propagate the dragon fly in such num-
bers as to affect the production of mos
Quitoes? That IS a question for entomolo-
gists to answer, but it is certain that in
marshes where mosquitoes did abound
and afterward the dragon fly made
his appearance the former pest is seen
or felt no longer
There are some marshes in Jersey
which are perfectly free from mosqui-
toes, as are there also in Long Island
and elsewhere, but if a visitor to these
places will take the trouble to observe
he will find that in these marshes there
are innumerable dragon flies. 1t is an
easy lesson, and it should be remem-
bered-
All kinds Of remedies are suggested
for mosquito bites and against their
bites Ammonia and washing blue are
perhaps the best of the former remedies,
while rubbing the exposed parts Of the
body with pennyroyal or lemon juice
are the best of the latter But the evil
itself should be overcome. The creosot-
ed pond viii certainly fill the necessity
IN private parks or farms. The propaga-
ton of the dragon fly would surely eradi
cate the pest. bur ali that I have said of
how these things can be done will not. I
fear. prevent Mr.. or rather Mrs. Mosquito
from worrying poor humanity this sea-
son
But is it not we'll to know by whom
and how we are bitten and worried and
how it is possible TO prevent the worry?
R. W. FRANCIS