The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-07-27

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this territory. which makes the ideal
breeding place of this species. Ana,
as matter of fact, il is widely distrl-
buted throughout the state. being sec
ond only to the Culex PIpiens."
Rapid Reprodueers.
After describing various other spe-
cies of mosquitoes. DR.. Byrd says:
Mosquitoes, like most other insects,
and, indeed, most Of the lower organ
isms, reproduce very rapidly and
would, if unchecked, overrun the earth
in a very little while. But nature pro-
vides checks and counter-checks for
such rapid multiplication. Whether
there are any creatures that prey upon
the eggs or not, it is certain that 4
large percent of them never hatch
In the iarval or wriggleT stage they
have many enemies. MinnOws eat
them, the larvae of d7agonflies and
beetles eat them. disease attacks them
fungi get on them and kill them; they
die for lack Of food, they sometimes
eat one another, they get entangled in
threads of SpirOgyra or under floating
leaves and drown. The water dries
up before they are grown and millions
of them perish in this way. Finally,
when they are ready to emerge from
the pupa, the cast-off skin serving as
boat for the casting TO take place in
frequently capsizes and the mosquito
dies at the very threshold of existence
And those that do hatch successfully
now have to take their chances among
dragon flies. bats. lizards. toads. night
hawks and a host of other enenies.
State Board Will Assist.
Suppose that some progressive, en-
ergetic town desires to get rid of mos
Quitoes. how will it go about it? Mani
testify, the first thing is to determine
what the prevailing species are, and
where they breed. The state board of
health may lend assistance here. This
determined it remains to control
these breeding places. By far the
greater number will be found to be
neglected vessels of water on private
premises, sucn as tanks, cisterns, rain
barrels, watering troughS, sagging
cutters; even the water pitcher in
the spare room may breed mosquitoes
enough to supply the whole household.
Let the council make it a duty OF
every citizen 70 keep his own premises
clear of wrigglers, imposing, if neces-
ssry, a small fine for neglect of this
duty, in order to make it effective.
"TrOughs and pitchers and vessels
that can be emptied once a week need
that only. Cisterns and tanks can be
screened so that the mosquitoes can't
get to them to lay their eggs. Or they
can be oiled.
Set Traps for them.
I'm addition to this. let every house
hold have its artificial breeding place
a pail of water set ir some shady
place in the yard. Mosquitoes will
come to it TO deposit their eggs, inStead
Of going to some place where they
would be difficult to ind or get al.
These traps viii catch most of the
eggs TO be deposited ABOUT the place.
And as they require about ten days
to come 10 maturity. the pals need
only be emptied once a week and re-
filled But they serve q better pur-
pose Stin than merely an artificial
breeding place. They viii be a most
potent factor in education They are
so many aQuaria. wheTe every man,
woman aud child will acquire a practi-
cal knowledge of the breeding habits
of mOsquitOes-wi,l come 10 kuO tn
eggs she larvae, pupae, the tine they
require TO hatch. the where ore of ex.
terminating them: AMI then, insteal
of having a few enthusiastic wo 'kers.
the whole town will become interest
cd, and the mosquito IS doomed.
Fill Up the Low Places.
breeding places around town are
10 be controlled by. the city autlUri-
ties. Some places can be filled I'D
Others can be diched. Flsh can be
In same or duckweed. ana
so on. The ingenious American Will
find ways and means, if only he enlists
in earnest.
"To control the salt marsh breeders
is a state problem, and cannot be dis
cussed mere. Nor does it concern
places without the range of their MI
gTaUiOn-say twenty miles or more
from the coast. Nor neei it deter any
place from waging war against rs
local mosquitoes. thereby getting rid
Of disease carriers.
IN conclusion, permit me to say
that the time is coming. and not far
distant when the liberation of mos.
Guhoes will be a municipal crime.
That they can be controlled is no long
e a question, but a demonstrated
fact and il now remains with US to
decide whether we viii be leaders or
followers in this beneficient crusade"