Graham guardian., 1900-12-07
MALARIAL MOSQUITO
Points About the Kind That Com
municates the Disease.
Facts Ascertained by scien,tne In
yestigatiOn Which May Ba of
Value 10 Members of the
Human Family.

1t has now been pretty weh estab-
hshed that the microbes or parasites
which are found in the blood of human
victims of so-called ''malarial" diseases
are also found IN some MOSQUITOES.
And it appears to have been Cemon-
strated that certain stages of the de-
velopment of these microbes occur out
side the human body. 1t is yet TO be
proved that the mosquito affords the
only other domicile required for this
| part of the parasites career. But Just
now that insect is the only living crea-
ture against which completely in the
crime is proved. Hence just now scores
of experts are devoting a great deal OF
! study to the relations which exist be-
tween malaria and mosquitoes, says the
| New York Tribune.
For time this subject was comnli-
Gated by curious contradiction. On
the one hand, the microscope revealed
the presence of the now well-known
parasites in mosquitoes; and mos
quitoes that had been infected were
made TO communicate malaria TO hui
man subjects On the other hand, GER
tain neighborhoods which abounded iIsU
mosquitoes were found to be prac-
tically free from malaria, and thou
sands of persons have been bitten by
such insects without suffering from
malaria. DR.. Manson and Surgeon
Major Ross. two prominent British in
yestigators, at length discovered that
one kind OF mosquito was actively con-
cerned in the business and another
kind was not. This, of course, put the
matter in an entirely new light. and
has led to a more careful observation
of the distinguishing marks of mos
quitoes.
The mosquito most abundant in
some localities is known TO the scien-
lists as the "culex pipiens" This
genus has now been acquitted of any
share in the dissemination of malaria.
The parasites are sometimes found in
it, but the bite of the culeN somehow
does not seem TO produce malaria in
human subjects That it can and does
communicate microbes to birds seems
TO be partially proved. But so far as
men and women are concerned, moth
ing more than the ordinary and we'll
known consequences of mosquito
bite is to be expected from the culex.
The misqdito which does all the mis-
chief, so far as is known at present,
is the anopheles pronounced "an-off-
e-leze," with the accent on the second
syllable). And IL is very desirable to
tell them apart Eventually il may
prove that the suppression ok the
anopheles will rid region Of malaria;
but If that were true il would be tool
ish TO waste time, money and energy
in fighting the culex.
In n recent address in this city DR..
L. o. Howard, chief entomologist oflthe
agricultural department. in Washing
ton, pointed out several differences be-
tween the two. First, as to their wings
Those of the culex are practically with
out any colcr markings. Those of the
anopheles bear dark. irregular patches,
which are not so well defined rs those
of n butterfly but which are eaSiiy
recognized IL the two insects arc
their feelers, or 'palpi." These are two
in number and stick out forward from
the head. one on each side Of the pro-
boscis. Those of the culeN are short
and insignificant, while the palpi Of the
are nearly as long as the
proboscis, Thinily, the two mosquitoes
have different way ot resting On the
wall of a room when quiet. The body
of the culeX is parallel with the wall.
whereas that OF the anopheles sticks,
out at an angle. II he is on the ceiling
his body will seem to stick out al a
right angle. The hum Of the culex is a
little shriller than the note of the
anopheles. The difference in pitch IS
about equal to four tones of the musi-
cal scale. Finally, it appears that the
is chiefly active at night and
is given to repose by day. Other points
of dissimilarity have been observed in
the eggs, larvae and pupae, But these
need not be dwelt on here. II would
require an expert TO detect them. The
means already described. and especial
~ the first three, will be found the
readiest and most convenient for dis
the two insects. And
study of mosquitoes from this point of
ri,w z" io prove a e~@trg
ii ~ rokrl amy