The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-08-20
ellow fever (steeomyia taenlata.

yellow fever (stegomyia taeniata. Theob.-Cuiex mosquito, R. D. Is diurnal and crepuscular. for 1t may be met with at any hour between daybreak and nightfall. and takes its rest during the night The males never bite nor suck blood: the females only do so after they have mated, and never lay their ova before having sucked blood. After a complete feed of blood the insect will not bite again until all the contents of it's stomach have been digested or dis charged; this process requires AS to 50 hours in summer, but may be delayed two or three days more in cool weather.
 The wings of the stegomyia are so
 small that after a full meal. 1t must be unable to fly to any height, nor even to any considerable distance on level. It shuns the sunshine, avoids flying across open waters, and keeps away from the wind. Its eggs are laid in peculiar manner, some entirely out of the water. so that they are apt to remain unmatched during several weeks or months, and yet may develop brood after that lapse of time when they happen to be covered with water Of suitable temperature. It is probably by this means that the species is propa- gated during the cooler months of the Cuban climate. The stegomyia breeds in any collection of water Ca very small quantity is needed) in the yards, gar dens, basements of houses, often in the lye-water used by washerwomen in this country; but also inside of rooms when water has been allowed to stand several days in basins, jugs or open bottles
 new brood may develop in or 10 days If the larvae are abundantly pro- .vided with food (bread crumbs seem to agree very well with them), otherwise several weeks may elapse before the ernW tfC cas.
 "When tho temperature falls to 20 degrees c. the Insect is disinclined to fly and below Is degrees or 10 degrees c. 1t is benumbed and unable either to fly or to bite. It is killed by tempera- ture below freezing point or above 40 degrees C.; probably 30 degrees to 32 degrees c. is its optimum temperature "The stegomyia Is very domestic In It's habits and will not be likely to leave the premises on which it has taken LID its quarters so long as 1t finds in 1t the necessary conditions Tor tbe completion of its life-cycle (oppor- tunitles for satisfying It's craving Tor human blood. water in which 1t may lay It's ova, and an agreeable atmos- phere suited to It's tastes and of the requisites 1t will migrate into the near est place where they may be satisfied.
 'aThe Stegomyia becomes contami- mated and acquires the faculty of trans hitting the disease only after having bitten a yellow fever patient within the first five or six days of his attack.
 During the first two or three days of its contamination, it's bite may some times occasion an attenuated form of the disease. but after that period the insect loses. for a while. the faculty of inoculating the disease iH any form, and 1t is only when twelve or more days have passed since its contamina- tior, that 1t acquires the power of pro- ducing a well marked attack of vel low fever: the virulence of its bite be- ing then considerably greater in sum mer than in winter. The contaminat- cd Stegomyia retains thereafter, du- ring its life time (which may last sev- enty days). the faculty of reproducing the disease every time that 1t chances to bite a non-immune.
 'The manner in which a On-immune may become infected is apparently un- der the following circumstances:
 "First-By visiting a place where contaminated mosquitoes exist. at time when those insects happen to be in a condition to bite and prepared to inocuiate the disease.
 'Second-By tue fact that case of yellow fever has occurred in the neigh borhood and mosquitoes contaminated from that patient have. for some req son, been induced to migrate into the non -immune's dwelling.
 "Third-By the conveyance of con- raminated mosquitoes in parcels boxes. etc, or, possibly, caught under a hat while biting the head of a visitor on his way 70 the non-imnune's house.
 "Fourth-During the hot summer
 days the Stegomyia is apt to fly out into the street, under porches. etc, auggesting the posslbjntY of thAiS- -hit- J