The Washington herald., 1908-05-06

habits Of the mosquitoes Of Panama, and
thereby to assist IN the sanitary war
against them as disease carriers. Mr.
Busek was recently sent on a collecting
and investigating trip to the Canal Zone.
The material brought back by him has
been studied and identified. and full re-
port, showing ninety separate species on
the isthmus, is Just published by the
Smithsonian Institution in its series OF
Miscellaneous Collections"
Mosquitoes Have Queer Habits.
Inasmueh as each species Of mosquito,
besides being physically different in some
respect from every other, has habits OF
its own, the necessity Of knowing accu-
rately and completely just what sorts OF
mosquitoes have TO be coped with is ap-
parent. Some kinds breed exclusively in
artificial receptaoles Of water such as tin
cans and open vessels; others only in hol-
low places in trees; some in high vines
I that Overgrow the trees: some limit their
breeding 10 notches OF bamboo stalks.
+ and other varieties are satisfied only with
crab holes in the ground One OF the spe-
/ cies carries yellow fever some spread
carrying other diseases On the other
hand. a large number OF species are en-
| tirely harmless. and several do not bite
/ human beings at al.
/ Thus, aside from the pure contributions
/ 10 knowledge resulting from the trip. this
exploration has rendered possible more
economic and efficient methods for ex-
terminating the disease carriers.
Mr. Busck spent three months on the
isthmus during the breeding time, cover
ing the end Of the dry season and the
early part Of the rainy season, and Sc
cured larvae Of eighty-three species. Of
which thirty species were new to science
With seven additional species already
known, this constitutes tie largest num-
Der recorded from any one locality on
earth. Most Of the material gathered has
been deposited in the United States Ma
tional Museum
Mosquitoes do not fly very far from the
place where they are born. They keep
close to their food supply. Those that af-
feet the inhabitants Of a town or camp
normally do not come from a distance
greater than 200 yards. It is this fact that
renders the sanitary work Of the Canal
Commission possible
Methods to Destroy Them.
The land about every settlement is
cleared by the removal Of all brush, un-
dergrowth. and grass; only shade and
fruit trees are left. and these are thinned
out to admit sunlight and free yentila-
ton. When practicable. swamps and low
lands are filed IN with some Of the i'm
mense supply of material taken from the
Culebra cut. Then the whole area is
drained so that the surface water will run
off. bitches and slow-fiowing streams
are kept clear Of mosquitoes by drippings
Of oil or of copper sulphate.
Swamps and pools are oiled at least
once a week. Water barrels, buckets,
and pals must be screened or oiled, and
ali tin cans must be buried. Even the
old cast-off machines, brush-covered rel
les Of French occupation. are drained Of
their puddles Of water. If many insects
infest a camp or town. il is fumigated.
BY carrying out these methods Of general
determination exceptionally thorough re-
suits have already been obtained.
Sull greater efficiency may be secured,
Mr.. Busck believes, by turning 10 use
habits Of special varieties Of mosquitoes
found on the isthmus. The opportunities
opened about the canal for further en-
hancing mans knowledge OF disease-pre-
venting methods are peculiarly favorable
and grasping them makes for sanitary
welfare not only in Panama, but In all
the tropical countries Of the earth.
Yellow Fever and Malaria.
One important feat has already Seen
accomplished. The yellow fever mosquito.
the only kind in America spreading this
infection. scientifically called Stegomyia,
Is very. scarce. It is possible to live for
weeks on the canal without seeing a sin
gle specimen. This mosquito is strictly
domestic animal. never found away from
man. 1t breeds only in artificial recep-
taCles, such as barrels, water coolers,
bottles tin cans, &c, in and around hui
man habitations. Knowing this, il is well
within the power Of the authorities to
eliminate absolutely this dangerous insect
and render a yellow fever epidemic i'm
possible on account of the total absence
OF the only agent which spreads II.
The Misunderstanding varieties. incIud-
ed under the general name of Anopheles,
are also subject to strenuous attack.
Usually the species of this group deposits
larvae along the edges OF slow flowing
streams and stagnant pools, but speci-
mems were also secured from the bottom
of an old boat. from an abandoned dump
car, from holes IN trees, and in similar
the-way spots. It has not yet
been determined whether all Of these are
instrumental in carrying malaria. and
therefore they may furnish a fertile field
for investigation
CannibnIs OF Their Tribe.
Certain genera. technically called Me
garhinus, Psorophora. and Lutzia. were
found which, instead of spreading any
disease hostile to man. wage war on their
weaker cousins, and at times even on
their brothers and sisters They are can
nihals Of their sort. Rather than exter-
inmate mosquitoes of these habits, it
might be we'll 10 cultivate them and to
enlist them as allies OF the sanitary au-
thorities. were it not for the fact that
some of them are exceptionally annoying |
biters Of mankind.
Mr.. Busck's search was not limited |
strictly to the Canal Zone. He made sew
eral trips to adjoining places IN order to |
cover the territory as thoroughly as pos. |
sible. The results OF examination of the |
material brought back constitute the first |
TO knowledge OF the mos |