Lower coast gazette., 1914-10-03
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8 1914.
The Mosquito.

,rrh TO our discomfort, Is NV do k@ns1 l
on+;onal injury to us as we are clsposeu " /
Dr Gorgas' effective work in clearing
parama Canal Zone Of mosquitoes set an ex-
no ~ all the world that ought to be followed
,ha,aya, practicable. To apply his directions
tbo lower Coast, where our lands he low ana
.ubera almost every ditch has more or less wafer
n it. we must formulate some plan OF actoa III
with DR.. Gorgas experience u We
have any hope to diminish this PEST winch ooes
90 much harm in our teinpers, and as moch
horno IN The reputation Of the country, as "ouso
nav MANY times over for the rellef tna' we
eo,ld secure from mosquito attacks Dy a lNh1l'ea
onoo,ct Of not very expensive effort. In 1ne
fret Mace # il desirable that everyone shou'u
80 +ho ho,ses wire screened with No. Is mesh
x;ye. chat is wire with Is mesiles 10 she 'lc''
thus making the meshes so snail tha5 Tie Ao'-
a,,;to cannot oct through. The old No. II Wlfe
eould no nenetrated by the smaller mosquito ana
especially by the little gnats ard some o. the
s,aaller beetles that make occasional inVasioA'
80 ~, coast lands. With doors and WlnooWs
vol, screened one can live in our houses WIZ
practical comfort and without any disturbance
and almost without the necessity OF using 'aos,
n,;to bars. although the Occasionally opeieu
o,ors or onenad window screens. may let enough
,,oson;toes in to make their exclusion ny NOS
otto bars thus doah!y c%fTe,tl'e.
The nexe point to consider is the 1aeI ti'at
where there is any body Of water OF sunlcieht
depth to support fish life, II fshes DC cnere PRES
ent such bodies are not apt 70 generals any
mosquitoes, as the fish will eat the Wiggiela'ls
- larvae cf the mosquito. All ordinary pools OF
water should be drained where possible. Even
n the middle CT the public road if a puddle OF
v1afer should persist for few hours mosquito
<unrs would be laid thereon and If should per-
s7ss for two,or three days, wiggletalls would DC
aeyaloned and thus, with worry little delay, we
have full fadged mosquitoes coming from any
standing water, however small n aoahuss'
whether i little mud puddle or a tin can OF a
hooe nrint of a COW Or horse, or broken crocSer3
filled with water, they all become the nesting
places for the mosquitoes wherein taelf eggs
ale laid and from which the mosquito quickly
energies full fedged.
Il is a recognized fact that the mosquitoes Go
rot travel very far. They prefer qulet Weat.ef
ind to remain in their own lmalediato ioeali.y
and as a rule ere feeding on the juices OF plants
that are accessible to them, though Il men o.
he lower animals come about OF course the
mosquitoes seize upon their opportunity 20 ieeo
"a Them at once, This disposition OF the mos
n,,;to to remain at home aud to feed on the JUICE
Il PLANTS, makes it imperative that tue sui,
rouaainss Of all OF our Buildings saould % Asp'
irae o. weeds AID grass. Tall weeds and tai
grass BECOME protective places for the ma1uff
~raosouito whence an ordinary storm VIII no
drive it. as the mosquito will cling to the unae
q lecward side Of the leaf as long as posslol
during any storm. Probably one half OF the an
noyance that we now experience from mosque
oes Genes from the great growth OF grass al
weeds around our buildings and a very little g
Fart will keep these suppressed and by tnel
.uu.ression there would be developed q shol
Growth Of Bermuda grass that makes a beaut
mi lawn and would make all our properties loa
far better than now and would be a very niue
diminished harbor for the adult mosQuito.l
IN regard to mosquito prevention in d'tche
thcs. who have access to fuel Gil would t9lndtn
1hev could improve their WI situation We
ranch 81 keeping the bitches that are INTEND
to drain their buildings and quarters Tree
Grass and weeds andthen to put say q gallon
fuel oil 10 the head Of each ditch, waica Oil Y
then gradually spread throughout the emf
length Of the ditch if the ditch be in reasoina'
rood order and will so cover the surface as
prevent the growth Of any mosquitoes there
serving its purpose until a heavy shower y