Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-17

ers and is harmless to both man and beast
Curiously enough, the females inordinate
love of blood Is not a natural but an &C.
Quired, taste.
At last we have some accurate scientific
knowledge of this terrible insect. DR.. L.
0. Howard of the government bureau OF
entomology has devoted years to the con-
scientious study Of the mosquito, and now
makes some interesting statements con-
corning the cumming bird of the swamps."
His revelations are calculated to increase
our respect for the tiny winged things
He recently made a comparative study OF
the various species of mosquitoes native
to this country. DR.. Towards investiga-
tons show that there are no fewer than
no locality has less than eight species OF
the culicidae How much of an American
the mosquito really Is can best be decided
after learning that there are altogether
but $50 known species of the family in the
world, Of which only thirty have been
found in Europe. At the same time the
mosquito is cosmopolitan, and while -four
ishirg in greatest opulence in the tropics
manages to live comfortably in the cold
est climates, as every arctic explorer will
attest-indeed the fact Is established that
no extreme of cold can kill mosquito.
which is entirely contrary to common belief,
but scientific fact none the less.
In the Arctic Regions.
No people suffer more from the small
blood suckers than do the Esl1imos who
live in the neighborhood Of the arctic cir
Gle. In the extreme northern regions the
brief summer becomes a season of tor
ment because of the countless swarms OF
mosquitoes that oblige even the RENDERS
and polar bears to seek refuge from their
tiny annoyers by travelling far inland.
Usually the mosquito affects low-lying
countries. although the testimony Of all
travellers proves that they are frequently
seen snd felt upon the highest peaks of
the Alps and are not uncommon in the
Adirondacks at an altitude Of 5000 feet
above the sea level. According to DR.. How
ard. the great eyclops OF the whole mo-
squito race is the AIopheles quadrimacu-
latus. a muscular insect, as fearless as it
is voracious. It is a late breeder, and
makes Its appearance in the autumn.
as Culex stimulars. Culex punctor, Culex
pertubans and Culex excrucians. Each spe-
cies has its peculiar habits.
An instance of this Is found in the fact
of Cape May. N. j., are provided with
most powerful singing apparatus, but no
vocal abilities. This songless mosquito
with the large appetite and two-edged
a blind gnat." Like all other creatures,
big and little, the mosquito will flourish
wherever the conditions are favorable to
its propagation and growth; Its numbers
must decrease the moment the conditions
are made unfavorable to its subsistence.
The question then naturally arises. What
are favorable conditions? While the ques-
ton cannot be answered with absolute ac-
curacy, yet there Is no doubt that without
water these troublesome insects could not
exist. simply because water Is their breed
ing ground.
To Exterminate the Pests.
DR.. e. A. Schwarz of the chronological
bureau says that his observations have
led him to the conclusion that as long as
the stream Is not a rapid enc its other
characteristics are entirely immaterial as
far as mosquito propagation is concerned.
Swamp pools aud marsh ponds where the
mosquitoes breed are rendered entirely bar
rem of that unwelcome crop by the introa
duction Of q few carp perch or other ac-
tive fish. An effective plan for extermina-
ting culcidae Is the one adopted by DR..
Howard. which was nothing more complex
than the pouring Of kerosene oil upon lar
vac waters. Two gills of oil will cover Is
square feet of water surface; the Oil form
or "wrigglers." which are mosquitoes in
their second stage of development, are Inn
mediately suffocated. OF course this
method could never be pursued in the ex-
tensiye sea marshes along the coast where
mosquitoes breed in fncalculable numbers:
1t serves chiefly for inland places where
the supply of winged pests is derived from
comparatively small swamps and adjacent
pools. Purely salt water destroys mosqui-
toes, while brackish water supports them,
It is less than a year ago that q mosquito
by cutting canal. which Transformed q
fresh water lake into salt water pond.
In San Diego. Texas. the local supply Of