The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-08-22
THE STEGOMYA
As A BIRD
Of PREY
Clever and Amusing Description
of Troublesome Insect By an
0CaIa Writer.

A correspondent of the Ocala Star
furnishes the following interesting
and amusing article upon the mos
quito question:
In view of the rapid increase In
New Orleans of that lutescent calen-
ture superinduced by the hunger OF the
stegomyia fasciata and taking into
consideration the calescence OF the
Governors of Louisiana and Mississip-
pi, whose conversation differs so
greatly from that of the genial-hearted
Governors of the two Carolinas, the
scribe again rises TO remark.
'Imprimis. these little lectures II
words of one syllable are designated
principally for the edifcation OF the
young. Too deeply do we realize the
hCpelessness of trying TO change the
life-formed views of the aged upon the
significance of the deadly cimex or
the blood-thirsty stegOmyia. For did
they not find the cimex and stegomyia
like the annual visitation of chills and
fever. the liquor traffic and few other
Of the many evils 10 which flesh is
heir here when they came? So it is
TO the youthful we offer the words of
warning Then. gentle readers, lis
ten 20 the scribe, for his words are
as goods and as nails fastened by the
masters of assemblies.
Ergo as a tOxophilite of the idea OF
tender age, let me call your attention
10 the frightful culex causing so much
trouble and so many guarantees just
at present.
The Insect Described.
THE stegomyia fasciata is a small
affair with long spraying legs, a big
appetite, a slender body, an elongated
proboscic. a capacity for human blood
truly astonishing and a special adap-
tation for the PRONUNCIATION of yellow
fever germs. Yellow fever, accord
ing to Webster, whose use of words is
as good, We believe, as any one we
know, is a malignant. contagious, feb
rile disease of warm clamates, etc.
But let US not disgress. The stegom-
via fasciata is a trifle more particular
in her dress q say her for 1t is the
representative of the gentle sex that
does the damage to the epidermis and
inoculates the more minute blood YES
sells with the germ afOresaid) than
the other mosquitoes. She wears from
the crown. of her head to the daintieSt
tip of her furthest toe a sober suit
with glaring white stripes. And so
you see by their suit We may knew
them.
Now, let US look for a few mo-
ments into the culture of this inter
esting insect. What Josh Billings
said about dogs is equally true about
the stegmoyia. He says no family is
so poor they can't own one dog and
some families are poor enough to own
| five or six. Even so with the stegom-
via. She is not proud, but will honor
the home of the poor and needy just
as though they were rich.,She shows
no race prejudice, devoting as much
attention, or more to the humble Ital-
ian, or the naughty descendant of old
Hispana, as she does to the free and
independent citizen of the United
States. She pays no attention to so,
cial distinctions, dining just as readi-
/ " with a drummer as a lOngshOreman.
What 9 lesson do we gain from this,
! See the sweet impartiality of the steg-
! omyia.
But you will say, my young friends,
/ how can we raise these gentle crea'
lures? The process is simple, rain
barrel, an old tin can, an open cistern,
a neglected bowl of water, says the
scientist, affords a home.
The stegOmyia is easily tanned
They can be taken right into the home
and become the most faithful atten'
Gants for the children. As they are
a trif1e coquettish, possibly a femi.
nine trait, they seem to enjoy their
food more when they have to go
through a Rosquito bar to get it. Too
much sunshine is not good for them
and it is generally best to keep one OF
two corners of the room dark enough
20 give them protection. There is
really no reason why every family
should not add this specie of culex to
the household supply"