The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1900-10-03
MALARIAL MOSQUITO
Points About the Kind That Com
municates the Disease.
Facts AsceFtained by Scientific In
yestigatiOn Which May BE of
Value TO Members of the
Human Family.


victims of so-called "malariaI' disease
are also found in some mosquitoes
And it appears to have been Lemon
strated that certain stages of the de
velopment of these microbes occur out
side the human body. 1t is yet TO b,
proved that the mosquito affords the
only other domicile required for thi.
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 compIi-
Gated by curious contradiction. On
the one hand, the microscope revealed
the presence of the now welLknown
parasites in mosquitoes; and mos
quitoes that had been infected were
made TO communicate malaria to hu-
man subjects. On the other hand, GER
tain neighbNrhoods 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
Major Ross. two prominent British in
vestigators, atylength 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 n 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
1t, but the bite of the culex 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 a mosquito
bite is to be expected from the culex.
The misquito which does all the mis-
chief, so far as is known at present,
Is the anopheles pronounced "anvotf,
e-leze," with the accent on the second
syllable). And 1t is very desirable to
tell them apart. Eventually it may
prove that tho suppression of the
will rid a region of malaria;
but if that were true it would be fool
ish TO waste time, money and energy
in fighting the culex.
In recent address in this city Dr.
L. o. Howard, chief entomologist ofthe
agricultural department in Washing
-on, pointed out several differences be-
ween the two. First, as to their wings.
Those of the culeY are practically With
out any color markings. Those of the
lnopheles bear dark, irregular patches,
which are not SO well defined as those
It butterfly but which are easily
ecognized if the two insects are
iaeed side by side. Then there are !
heir feelers, or ''palpl." These are two
4 number and stick out forward from
be head. one on each side of the pro-
oscis. Those of the culex are short
nd insignificant, While the palpi of the
nopheles are nearly as long as the
roboscis. Thirdly, the two mosquitoes {
ave a different way ptresting on the
all of room when quiet. The body
the culex is parallel with the wall
hereas that of the anopheles sticks
ut at an angle, If he is on the ceiling
is body will seem to stick out at a
ght angle. The hum of the culex is n
tile shriller than the note of the
lopheles. The difference in pitch is
,out equal to four tones of the musi
i scale. Finally, it appears that the
lopheles is chiefly active at night and
given to repose by day, Other points
dissimilarity have been observed.in
e eggs, larvae and pupae. But these
ed not be dwelt on here. 1t would
quire an expert to detect them. The
cans already described, and especial Z
the first three, will be found the L
adlest and most convenient for dis.
lgulshing the two Insects. And
ndy OF mosquitoes frem this point of
wv is likely to prove a fascinating Es
q profitable pursuit to a good many on
ung people this summer. --