Daily camera. [volume] (Boulder, Colo.) 1891-1928, 1900-08-14
MALARIAL MOSQUITO
Points About the Kind That Gen.
municates the Disease.
Facts AssertaineA ~ SeieatiAs Ia
vssti6atfen Which Nay Ds u
Valua 70 Aenbers Of the
Hanan Fanily.

H0no0 EAAlly.
1t has now been pretty weh estAb-
lished that the microbes or parasites
which are found in the blood of human
victims of so-called malariat" diseases
are also found in some mosquitoes,
And it appears to have been Demon
strated that certain stages of the de-
velopment of these microbes occur out
ride 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 great deal OF
study to the relations which exist be-
tween malaria and mosquitoes. says the
New York Tribune.
For a time this subject was c0Wpli-
Gated by a curious contradiction. On
tile one hand, the microscope revealed
the presence of the now well-knowp
parasites in mosquitoes; and mos
quitoes that had been infected were
made to communicate malaria to hu-
man subjects. On the other hand, GER
t. in neighborhoods which abounded in
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
NJ .jor Ross. two prominent British in
VI tigators, at length discovered that
Ole kind of mosquito was actively con-
ctrned in the business and another
X nd was not. This. of course, put the
n alter 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
SC ne localities is known to the scien-
ii is as the 'culex pipiens." This
g aus has now been acquitted OF any
.! are in The dissemination OF malaria.
Tie parasites are sometimes found in
il. but the bite of the culex somehow
does not seem to produce malaria in
human subjects That it can and does
&C mmunicate microbes to birds seems
to be partially proved. But SO far as
men and women are concerned, moth
IL !. more than the ordinary and we'll
kuown consequences OF a mosquito
bite is TO be expected from the culex.
The misquio wRsst does all the mis-
CHEF so far as is Known al present,
is the anopheles (pronoaaced "an-off
e. !eZe." with the accent on the second
s. llable), And it is very desirable to
t. II them apart. Eventually it may
p owe that the suppression OF the
will rid a region Of malaria;
bat il that were true it would be fool
ish 10 waste time, money and energy
IN fighting the culex.
In a recent address in this city DR..
/. o. Howard. chief ent omologist OF the
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 color markings. Those of the
anophees bear dark, irregular patches,
which are not so well defined as those
OF butterfly. but which are easily
recognized if the two insects are
placed side by side Then there are
their teelers. 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 culex are short
and insignificant, while the palpi of the
anopheles are nearly as long as the
proboscis. Thirdly, the two mosquitoes
have different way Of 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 at
right angle. The hum OF the culex is
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
anopheles 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. It. would
require an expert to detect them. The
means already described. and especial
ly the first three, will be found the
readiest and. most convenient for dis
tinguishing the two insects. And a
study Of mosquitoes from this point of
view is likely to prove fascinating
and profitable pursuit to a good many
young people this summer.
Ready for . Second Attack.
An old negro, evidently in town for
the first time, wearing limp straw
hat, knock-kneed trousers, and one
suspender, was ambling slowly down