The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-26

AWopnttfN CfuCluNd. III II Oh Drown Nblpl
and the thorax is striped with grayish
aes.
The largest is the Psorophord oiliutd, or
fringe legged mosquito. IL measures a
good half inch in length, excluding tho
beak, which is nearly half the length OF the
body.
The bite Of this insect is in proportion to
its size, but Is not 80 poisonous as that oil
the smaller species Clothing IL no pro-
lection against its attacks When hungry
II gets through coat, waistcoat and TWO
shirts TO the skin without trouble.
1t prefers horses TO humans, however,
and never attacks in swarms. II has no
aversion TO going indoors IL II thinks 1t
worth while. Az a rule this species does
not put III an appearance untl June Out
from that until October IL keeps busy.
The big wood mosquito, otherwise known
as JdHthinOsOmd musicd IL the most per-
tinac!ous of the lot. 1t Is black, with deep
purple reflections. When you invade its
haunts YOU can see nothing at first but OF
a sudden swarms of the insects willappear,
and there is no getting away from them
One Of these mosquitoes has been known
to return nineteen times to "A mans hand
after being driven away. Prof. Smith
vouches for that
The life of male mosquito is only a
few days but females live on an average
three months Some varieties die IN hve
or six weeks after maturing. while others
live seven or eight months. Those species
that hibernate as adults do not 90 into win
ter quarters until late in September ana
do not make their exodus until May.
All varieties breed in stagnant water
and require from one to three weeks to
change from eggs to winged mosquitoes
The malaria carriers will breed In any sort
Of receptacle that will hold stale wnter
but they never travel far from their breed
ing place. While the most dangerous
species. they are Mt the same time the most
easy 20 combat.
Mosquitoes feed upon vegetable juices
as we'll as upon blood. In captivity they
will feed upon the juices OF any fruit that
Is offered apples pears bananas, plums
or oranges
Science II appears. Ia still at sea as TO
why a mosquito bites The males do not
bite. as they cannot puncture the human
skin. for their mouth structures are not
adapted TO blood sucking. Prof. Smith
il i'm some doubt as to whether blood is
necessary food 70 enable the females TO
mature their eggs. He ia still at work on
that problem
Blood Is not necessary for all females
at any rate because there are stretches
Of salt marsh along the Jersey coast where
migratory mosquitoes abound by the
million and where the foot OF man or other
warm bloodcd animal rarely or never
trcads.
a mosquito bites primarily says Prof.
Smith. to obtain food. There IL neither
there may be in the act
| Mosquitoes will not breed in running
water nor in lakes in which the surface
OF the water is rppled by the wind. they
require stagnant pools, upon which the
/ larvp can float undisturbed and whore
/ fish will not devour them Where cattais
grow thickly on the salt meadows no mos
] 0utoes are bred Tho Hackensack Meadows
/ are poor breeding ground.
! Prof Smith advocates the control rather
| than the determination OF the MOSQUITOES
! of New Jersey. He thinks that sl,O0O,OpC
! devoted by the state to this purpose would
J be money well expended.
i have spoken Of mosquito control rather
I than determination he says in his report
( because do not believe actual eNternlna-
ton is possible in the case of an insect that
/ develops so rapidly and in such. a great
variety Of places. There viii always be
careless people and there will often be
unusual seasons that will give mosquitoes
chance to maintain themselves.
But it IS quite within our power TO DE-
prive them Of their larger breeding areas
and 10 reduce them 10 a point where they
! will cease TO be obnoxious
Two practical methods are proposed for
dghting mosquitoes. The first consists in
destroying the eggs and Larvae and the
/ other in preventive measures making II
impossible for the insects 10 breed
To carry out the latter plan it is proposed
! 10 drain the marsh lands Of the state and 10
mn up all holes in the earth where water
might lodge temporarily. Boards OF health
will be required to see mat the eaten pa7ln-
Of sewers are flushed with water frequently
and that ce.spools are made alright Rain
barrels and other receptacles will be kept
free from stagnant water and CELLAR II
necessary. will be fumigated.
The campaign agaln5t nose ,ll.,F'S WI,
be carried. II is proposed into every corner
Of New jersey
Among the natural enemies Of adult
mosquitoes are spiders frogs toads, lizards
bats and birds The larvR and eggs are
eaten hy fish especially bass, sunfish. pike
az the plan Of attack will be TO keep ponds
lakes and fountain pools stocked with in
sect destroying fish.