Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-06-06
MOSQUITO WAR
ISRENEWEDB BY
EXTERM|NATORS
Ditch Being Cut Through the
Meadows to Remove Breeding
Places of Pests.

- 7Es15----
The last stages Of the fight against
the mosquitoes on the Newark mead
ows are now we'll under way under
the direction OF the Essex County
! Mesquite Commission. The commits
sion engineers. and inspectors are en-
gagged in excavating a ditch 400 feet
, long across the meadows. 1t Will
run through the meadows from a
point In the line Of the extension of
Astor strees to Peddie street. 1t will
be between the paper streets, Ave-
nues G and II, and will empty into
the Peddy ditch The ditch will be
thirteen feet wide and i've feet deep.
a dredge owned by the Board Of
Works is being used to dig the
canal.
When finished the canal will drain
the stagnant water from the mead
ows. When this is done the breed
ing places of the salt marsh mos
quoeties on the meadows will all be
practically eliminated.
This is the variety Of the pest that
anaoys people outdoors and on
porches. 1t does not enter houses or
enclosures. The pests breed in salt
marshes and travel 10" distances
sometimes Of thirty miles.
The fight against this pest began
in Essex county on March 10. At
that time the bitches and marshy
land were gone over and cleaned out
by the inspectors. The work Of cut
ting bitches for drainage was begun.
Breed on Meadows.
The majority of the mosquitoes
breeded on the meadows affect Nut
ley and Belleville Bloomfield and
Newark are pra ctically rid of the self
marsh type Of pests.
There has been 4 great deal OF an
noyance at Lake Hopatcons the past
week from mosquitoes. Inspector
Dobb.a5 made an investigation and
found that the pests bothering the
residents at the lake were developed
on the Newark meadows
The salt uarsA mosQ uitoes die in
the fall with the approach OF cold.
They lay eggs in some moist place.
The eggs hatch out IN the spring. IL
the weather conditions are favora bic.
The eggs have been known, however,
10 hatch five years after they have
been laid.
The chief source OF annoyance from
mosquitoes. how ever, is caused BY the
pipien, which breeds in wells, els
terms. water barrels and sewer basins.
These are the pests that enter noises
and that cannot be entirely kept out,
even by screens. As soon as they are
Matched and have the strength to fly
they seek q haven indoors. This type
will stay on screen doors or screens
in windows until tliey open. They
also rest on hats and clothing and are
carried indoors in that manner.
This type does not die in the fall
They hibernate indoors during the
winter and lay their eggs In the
spring in or near barrels, wells, els
terms, sewer basins or the like. These
arc not so hardy as the salt marsh
mosquito aud need warm conditions
goes further than five miles from the
breeding places.
Develop By Warmth.
il is this type which IL now Begin
ninG to annoy the residents of the
county. With the approach OF warm
weather these pests develop rapidly
anu SOOil una lIlSlT way,
The inspectors fight against this
type by a house-to- house canvass
once in every twelve days during the
hot weather season. Barrels and yes
sells containing stagnant water are
overturned or oiled. The oil Is also
poured in sewer basins, clsterns and
other places containing water that is
not used for drinking purposes. Where
wells are found breeding the pests
gold fish are placed In the water.
These fish are top feeders" and eat
the bugs from the top OF the water
thus destroying the insects and their
larvae.
The insects, however. do not breed
as rapidly in we'll water beca use ii is
generally too cold In many instances
wlere water is in vessels to be used
for cooking purposes. gasoline or al
cChol Is used to kill the pests. These
fluids have tire same effect on the In
sects as oil. but eVaporate quickly
without leaving any. taste or oder to
the water.
On many occasions the inspectors
meet with opposition on the part of
householders when they attempt to
enforce their regulations Many of
the house dwellers object to having
barrels of rain water turned Many
people also leave tubs of wash water
in the yard until they have an OPP
portunity to water gardens.
The Board Of Health Inspectors CO.
operate to good advantage with the
mosquito inspectors, according to In
spector Dobbins. and oftentimes the
health inspectors render valuable as
sistance to the pest fighters.
Mr.. Dobbins has divided the city
into twelve districts. Each of the
districts are in turn divided into
twelve sections There are twelve
inspectors assigned to city work.
Each OF the inspectors works one day
in twelve in each OF the districts
Each inspector covers a section Of
the district in which he is working.
The United States Army realizing
the benefits to be derived from mos
quito regulation has inaugurated a
system of this kind at Vera Cruz.
THE ARGENTINE PERIL.
Is Argentina going TO run this