The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-08-20


source of mosquitoes. even in the i'm
mediate vicinity of taro-patches and
rice fields 70 be mainly the many ex-
posed receptacles filed with standing
water common about the laborerS'
quarters 1t is not in the fields, more
over, but about them in the clogged
bitches and about the sides. where the
water remains con parativeIy shallow
and unchanged, that the larvae are
found. The writer has, however. found
that in abandoned riee-fields, where the
water stands in more or less confined
areas for a great length of time, the
larvae do occur in large numbers.
In the outlying districts, where city
water is not supplied and rain water
must be stored for use the many con-
tanners used for this purpose, especially
about the native houses and Chinese
shacks, are by far the greatest source
of mosquitoes. The writer has counted
as many as seventeen tubs, barrels and
other containers about one native
house all breeding mosquitoes in i'm
mense numbers.
Generally speaking the determination
of the mosquito cannot be accomplish
ed The remedy is by a systematic and
continuous effort to do away with their
breeding places or, if that is not prac-
teal by the proper treatment. to rem
der the conditions unfit for the de-
veIopment of the larvae. In favored
localities this will result practically in
determination.
! The rules for Kidding any particular
community of mosquitoes are simple
and effective and do not require any
great expenditure of money. They may
be summed up as follows:
ID Mosquitoes to breed require
water, the larvae being as truly aquatic
as fish. To do away, then, with all
bodies of standing water by filing or
draining is the first step.
I'd Collections of water which can
not of necessity be removed, such as
water tanks and barrels used for stor-
ing water should be tightly screened to
prevent the gravid female from reach
ing them, drawing off the water for
use from below.
> 90 Mosquitoes can breed in water
only under certain conditions the main
one being a free supply of air above
the surface, which they obtain by
means of breathing tubes Bodies OF
water which cannot be done away with
by drainage or protected from adult
mosquitoes by screening, should be
treated in such manner as to prevent
the developing larvae from obtaining
the necessary supply of air. The coal
oil treatment, widely understood, con-
sists in covering the surface of exposed
water with thin layer or film of oil.
The oil does not affect the water for
use if the water is drawn off from be-
low. One ounce of oil will cover about
fifteen square feet of surface
(G If the use of oil is undesira BILE,
for example, in the case of a Iily-pond
or a watering trough for stock, the in
/ PRODUCTION of goldfish will keep the
water free from larvae.
90 All such artificial containers of
water about. the dooryard as tin cans,
bottles, broken pottery and crockery
on rubbish heaps, etc., should be col
lected and carted away.
go Other containers, as tubs and
buckets under water-taps, cuspidors,
fire-buckets. water in chicken coops
and dog kennels, etc. should be ire
quently emptied.
CD The plumbing about the place
should be carefully inspected since
mosquitoes are known to breed in cess
pools water-traps in sinks and closets,
catch-basins from leaders and in caves
that are imperfect or have become
clogged. Make the cover of the cess
pools absolutely tight and place a
screen over the opening of the vent
pipe for eggs deposited in the closet
tank are flushed down into the cess
pool and will hatch and develop
90 The work in any community
must be general since a neglected tub
in one yard can breed enough mos
quitoes to make an entire community
uncomfortable. 1t is seen from this
that though the mosquitoes fnfesting
~
same dooryard and that invasions from
any distance are exceptional yet to do
away with the pest the members of any
must cooperate in the
work.
(9) The adult mosquitoes seek shell
ter in weeds grass, bushes and trees
in the vicinity of water Therefore all
such vegetation about bitches, pools
and Their collections of water should be
cleared away.
1t should not be necessary to present
in detail the arguments why the vari-
Gus communities in these Islands
should take concerted action against
the mosquito. The reasons are self
evident. Not only does their presence
detract from the natural charm of the
country, but the danger attending the
presence of a disease carrying species
IS also apparent. Newcomers are more
susceptible to the attacks of this pest
than the kamaaina and money could
be profftably spent in making the stay
IF tourists more comfortable. The real
estate dealers could well afford to at
tempt to rid any particular section of
The mosquito nuisance for no one thing
1etracts more from locality otherwise
suitable for residential purposes than
he presence of this pest.