The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-09-03
THE SEA MOSQUITO.
His Life History lie Different From
Those Of the Cities.
From the New York Herald.

From the New York Herald.
Prof. John B. Smith, the state entomol-
ogist. today made this announcement: 'Tt
will be satisfaction to know that have
worked out the life history of the salt
marsh mosquito completely. I know just
how 1t breeds and Just where 1t breeds
now. and the knowledge is brand new.
The work was completed only a day or
two ago."
The results of the professors investiga-
ton are given by him in detail. The salt
marsh mosquito has certain well-defned
peculiarities that distinguish 1t from all
other species, and that make 1t easy 10
study its habits. 1t is the most numerous
and annoying of all the mosquito pests
in this state, because 1t abounds at tho
seacoast resorts at a time when its pesttf-
erous attentions are most undesirable.
It IS almost certain, Professor Smith
says, that the adult salt marsh mosquito
does not winter In the adult stage, be-
cause the most careful search along shore
very early in the present year failed to
disclose a single specimen. while malarial
and house mosquitoes were found In some
numbers He did not find the insect until
the spring was well advanced.
1t is almost equally certain that they do
not winter in the larva stage, because no
wrigglers were found when the winter
had Just ended, but were discovered in
great numbers and Of very small sizo
in late March and early April. The pro-
lessor concludes that the winter is passed
In the egg stage, and that the eggs are
laid singiy or in groups on grain or sedge.
or even on the ground. When the water
becomes sufficiently warm the wrigglers
hatch, and the seasons breeding is start
ed. Areas that are regularly covered
by ordinary tides are not breeding
places for these mosquitoes. nor are ponds
or pools covered only at full tides, # they
are six inches or more In depth and con-
tain fish or fiddler crabs.
1t will be news to many that the fiddler
crab is one of The most destructive enc
mics of the mosquitoes. 1t may be put
down as a general rule. says Professor
Smith, subject. perhaps, to exceptions,
that where fiddler crabs live mosquito
larvae do not.
"Depressions at the beginning of the
upland. covered only by winter or storm
tides, leaving pools that last for weeks
and are refilled by rains, are ideal breed
ing places" he says. Draws, drains or
bitches that fill at tides and do not drain
clean are bound to become filled with
wrigglers. Any depression in a salt marsh
area not connected with the tide that
at any time holds rair water for a week
will breed mosquitoes"
There are hundreds, perhaps thou
sands, of such pools, ponds, bitches and
depressions along the Jersey coast.
Speaking of the breeding capacity of
the mosquito in these places, the profess
sor says: II have found pools so crowded
that an estimate of 100 wriggers to an
area of one square inch was scarcely
equal to the fact Half that number is a
common occurrence. This means over 1000
In an area of one square foot. and it
needs an area of less sriian $50 squase
feet-a pool roughly 1Ox15 feet-to pro-
duce 100000 mosquitoes at one Matching"
The remedies the professor recommend
are to fill such breeding places wherever
1t Is practicable. This is the most effec-
tive and lasting remedy. 1t has been tried
with great success at Seaside park, and
partially at Mantoloken and Bay HeaA
Where filling is not practicable ne advises
that the tide flow be introduced, by ditch
Ing, or that petroleum be used. AS to
this last-named remedy, he says:
I'm such cases a pail of fuel oil, kero
sene or crude petroleum, and a broom are
needed. Dip the broom into the oil pail
shake the oil over the pool and then
sweep over the surface thoroughly. so as
to get into the grass and along the banks.
that every part of the pool may get its oil
coating end the water itself be stirred
with It In less than an hour every larva
and pupa will be dead, ard the pool Will
remain safe until the filing OF draining
operations can be completed