The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1909-10-09
IHe HNHI0ny arr MOSQDyZO -


method consists in propagating and
distributing a parasitic worm which
lodges in the body of the mosquito
and kills 1t or checks Its egg-laying
powers.
1t has for several years been recog-
nized that the mosquito is one OF the
worse public enemies of the American
people Upward of 10000 deaths oc-
cur from malaria, which is spread by
the mosquito alone. This figure does
not count the vast number OF people
whose systems are weakened by ma
iaria and thus easily succumb TO 9TH
er diseases. The discomfort caused
by the mosquito In many parts OF the
country is also a grave injury to pros
perity. Therefore. anything which
tends to eXterminate the mosquito is
of immense public benefit.
How greatly some regions are in
need of relief from mosquitoes has
just been shown by the dispatches
from Chenier au Tigre, large and
fertile island in the Gulf. off New Or
leans. The mosquitoes there have bred
in such quantities that the inhabi-
tants have been forced to keep in
doors altogether, while the cattle have
been killed by the mosquitoes filling
up their nostrils and throats and cho-
king them.
The new worm which kill the mos
quito is known to science as agomer-
mis- culiois-meaning "roundworm OF
the mosquito"-and is recognized as a
destructive parasite of the wicked in
sect 1t is also called the "hairworm"
in many places on account of its re-
semblance to a small hair. 1t spends
at least part of its life in the belly Of
thk mosquito. and in the case of the
female, when it does not kill her, it
prevents her from reproducing her
species-a result equally satisfactory
Very little is known of the life his
tory of the worm, or how it spends
the early stages of its existence. 1t is
a new discovery. 1t was first found
and identified, only short time ago
by Or. John b. Smith, who. as ento
mologist attached to the New Jersey
agricultural experiment station, al
New Brunswick. has charge of the
mosquito survey Of his state, which
has a widespread reputation for pro
ducing remarkable crop of mosqui
toes.
There are, as is we'll known, many
species OF mosquitoes In New Jersey
But the worst OF them all so far a!
ability to annoy goes. is the brut,
with striped legs. This Is the real anc
original Jersey mosquito" 1t breed
In marshes, though it flies thence TO
great distances, and scientific mel
know it as "culex solicitans."
Necessarily. this species cuts yer,
large figure ir the problem which Dr
Smith is engaged in tacking Wit
view to studying its life history II
detail. he has built on a marsh a Gag
OF wire net, with a framework of scant
ling, big enough for himself to occl
py In this cage he has reared tn
marsh mosquitoes. watching ther
through all the stages of their d.
3 veloqment, in the midst OF their ma
ural surroundings Incidentally. b
has subjected many specimens TO m
croscopic examination. to find out no,
the egg sacs OF the females deyelore,
and other such points.
On number Of occasions Will
thus studying the female insects n
noticed that their abdomens SCENE
abnormally enlarged Finally HI
curiosity being aroused bv this nh,
nomenon. be tore open the belly ,
one of the insects, aud found insid
Of II two-hair-ike worms about a thir
Of an inch long. and nothing els
They were something new to hir
and so be sent the worms to the go
eminent helminthologist ~ signifyir
worm man'-in Washington
The worm man Or. Charles Warde
stiles. promptly identified them ;
round worms" of the kind popular
known as hair worms" or ,wi,
worms He also gave them the lor
.adn name already mentioned. ar
szi3 that they were undoubtedly par
si,os Of the MOSQUITO. But in L