The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1906-01-01
WORST WORLD ANIMAL
is THE MOSQUITO
JERSEYS CAMPAIGN DESTRUCTION MA1A-
RIA-sPREADER-THE PROGRESS OF THE MOVEMENT
RESULTS so FAR-LoNG ISLANDS EFFORTS TO DUPLICATE
THE SUCCESS OF NEWARK.
Henry Beach Needham. In the County Calendar.

wind. This is an error, Mosquitoes are
rrail of wing; a light puff of breath
VIII illustrate this by hurting the help
less creature away, and it Will not ven-
ture on the wing again for some time
after finding a safe harbor. The preva-
lence of mosquitoes during a land
breeze is easily explained. II is usual
~ only during the lulls in the wind
that CuleX can fly. Generally on our
coast a sea-breeze means a stiff breeze,
and during these mosquitoes will be
found lowering on the leeward side Of
houses, sand-dunes and thick foliage
While the strong breezes last,
they will stick closely to these friend
ly shelters, though cluster of houses
may be but a few rods off, filled with
unsuspecting mortals who imagine
their tormentors are far inland over
the salt meadows. But if the wind dies
down, as it usually does when veering,
out come swarms upon swarms of fe-
males intent upon satisfying their de-
PRAYED taste for blood. This explains
when they appear on the field of action
almost Immediately after the cessation
of the strong breeze; on the SUPPOSE
tion that they were blown inland, this
sudden temperance would be unac-
countable."
AS to the best methods to employ in
Kidding a country place, or any other
region, Of mosquitoes, the directions
furnished by DIR. L. e. Howard, the
Government entomologist, who has been
a careful student of the problem since
1867, are of great value:
Altogether, the most satisfactory
ways of fighting mosquitoes are those
which result in the destruction Of the
larvae or the abolition of their breed
ing-places. In not every locality are
these measures feasible, but in many
places there is absolutely no necessity
for the mosquito annoyance. The three
main preventive measures are the
draining of breeding-p places, the intro
ducton of small fish into fishless breed
ing places, and the treatment of such
pools with kerosene. These are three
alternatives, any one of which will DE
efticacious and any one of which may
be used where there are reasons against
the trial of the others.
tlcally used, as shown by the writer's
experiments, is approximately one
ounce to fifteen square feet of water
surface and ordinarily the application
need not be renewed for one month. &.
The writer is now advising the use OF
the grade known as lubricating oil, as
the result of the extensive experiments
made on Staten Island. 1t is much
more persistent than the ordinary illu-
minating oils. . On ponds Of any
size the quickest and most perfect
method of forming a film of kerosene
will be to spray the oil over the sur.
face of the water. 1t is not, how
ever, the great sea-marshes along The
coast where mosquitoes breed ir
countless numbers, which we can ex.
pect to treat by this method but the
inland places, where the mosquito sup
ply Is derived from comparatively small
swamps and circumscribed pools. In
most localities people endure the tor.
ment or direct their remedies against
the adult insect only without the
slightest attempt to investigate the
source of the supply, when the very
such an investigation.
The introduction of fish into fishless
breeding places is another matter. 1
may be undesirable to treat certain
BREEDING places with kerosene, as, foi
instance, water which is intended for
drinking, although this has been done
without harm in tanks where, as i!
customary, the drinking supply il
drawn from the bottom of the tank
The value of most small fishes for thC
purpose of destroying mosquito larvae
was we'll indicated by an experience
described to us by M c. II. Russell
of Bridgeport, Conn. In this case q
very high tide broke away a dixie and
flooded the salt meadows of Stratford
a small town a few miles from Bridge
port. The receding tide left two small
lakes, nearly side by side and OF tn
same size. In one lake the tide left (
dozen or more small fishes, while the
other was fshless. An examination b!
Mr.. Russell in the summer of 1891 show
ed that while the fishless lake contain
ed tens of thousands of mosquito lar
vac that containing the fish had NJ
larvae. The use of crap for this pur-
pose has been demonstrated, but mos
small fish will answer as well. Tn,
writer knows of none that will be bet.
ter than either of the common litfn
sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus oil
Pygosteus pungitius),"
Is mOsquitO-ighting a success. This
question is an all-important one, no
only to summer resident, but also &c
cities and towns contiguous to salt
Swater marshes or to swampy lands
well suited for mountaineering. The
answer is this: Mosquito control /:
possible; actual determination impos
sible with an insect that develops q
rapidly. The Jersey mosquito" tn
unsclentihc name popularity given {
an insect OF huge size and ravenou
appetite, has become famous As
matter Of fact the species of mosQui
toes found in New Jersey are no NOR
rare or varied than those found Of