The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1903-08-14
fight AGAINST
THE MOSQUITO

The recent wet weather on the At
lantic coast has vastly Increased the
possible breeding-grounds for the NOS
quito, and the result has been an un-
usual development of that annoying
pest, amounting in places to what the
newspapers cali "scourge.' In spite
OF this, entomologists are quite certain
that mosquitoes can be practically ex-
terminated in localities that possess the
two requisites of patience and money
How this may be done Is explained
Guly). Says this writer:
Mosquitoes live and multiply where
there is an abundance of water, and
subsist upon the juices of plants. The
female has very strong beak so she
can penetrate the firmer plant struc-
ture in search of food; but the male
has not so strong beak. and so sub
sists on the more juicy plants.
1.-THE female lays her eggs on the
surface of quiet or stagnant water, in
little RATS composed of the cigar-shap-
ed eggs standing on end. The general
color is a light gray or almost white
on the upper side, while If they are OBJ
served from the lower side, they are
concave above and convex below, so
that it is really miniature boat. The
eggs float about on the water for but
a few hours, a day or two at the long
est, when they hatch, producing little
larvae. These vary somewhat accord
ing to the different kinds Of mosquitoes,
but they are really not water-insects in
the strict sense, for they have a BREATH
| ing-apparatus, and can not live below
the surface for more than ten or fif-
teen minutes.
THE most OF their food is obtained at
the surface. They lie there with their
breathing-tubes just above the surface
Of the water, and manipulate the lit
tie ella about their mouths in such a
way that a current of water is brought
past the mouth, which brings to them
that are floating upon the surface.
1T is in this stage of the mosquitoes
life that the scientist takes charge of |
the little fellow to destroy him and the |
future generations. If kerosene or some |
oily material is poured on the surface !
of the water. it can be readily seen
that these little fellows will thrust their
breathing-tubes up into the oil, and
get oil instead of air. 1t also DESTROYS
their foodsupply as the little particles
of food will float on the oil instead of
water so that they can neither eat nor
breathe, and must die. 1t takes very
small quantity of oil to accomplish
this"
In the pupa form, which is the mos
quito's next stage of existence the in
sects, instead of living in the water
and breathing through the air-tube
near the tail, have two tubes like ears
extending from the side of the head,
so tat when they are close to the sur
race these tubes project into the air
above In this form the insect gen.
orally remains near the surface. but
has a powerful tail by which It can
lower itself to the bottom of the pond.
Here again, we are told oil may be
Used to destroy the insects After only
few days in this form, the MOSQUITO
S liberated to seek his home among the
caves of the swamp vegetation. To
luote again:
Mosquitoes do not travel very far.
They live and die within half-mile
u their birthplace, unless some very
trong wind carries them away or they
get entrapped in some cargo and are
nus removed to other parts.
1T has been difficult for scientists to
ully appreciate this fact, as many
1caIities far removed from water had
o many mosquitoes; but careful in
estlgation has shown that mosquitoes
multiply very rapidly in cans contain T
ng water, and in little pools that have :,
orined in the tracks of domestic ami +
lals about the barnyard and in SINH
II places. Whenever freshly broken h
round is left rough. so that these 6
ools form more readily than before.
loSqultoes are noticed to increase very +
realty in numbers. Under these cir s
"''stahces, they seem to go through
ne various forms so very rapidly that o
vessel that will hold water for from A
Nehty-four to forty-eight hours will S
'"ke the multiplication of mosquitoes
ossible, and as one mosquito will Law z
ON two to four hundred eggs 1t can
readily seen that in the course of r
lree or four days we could have from c,
lree to four hundred times as many d
osquitoes about the locality as exist ..
previously. az
10 rid ourselves of these little nui- +
'nces. all that is necessary is to see
lht all these cans are upturned, the X
.le low places are filled up, and that AT
water remains in the caves troughs In
raln-barrels about the premises. IL II
Iese conditions can be controlled &c
ithin three hundred yards of our II.
'enises' we can practically control Oh
osquitoes about our homes.
During the winters, the pupae form N
''S into the pitcher-plants and into ~ ~,
detected places in the grass OF the
'aihps where 1t may be frozen I'D
mpletely, but in the spring they thaw sc GO
II ana continue their life uninjured. ID.
ne adult mosquitoes that are over A.,
Ken by the cold weather seek shelter ~
meath stone bridges, in cellars OF 60