Evening star., 1923-12-02

Inc open season Tor mosquitoes Is
now at it's height along the eastern
coast. Urged by the public health au-
thorities, citizens are shouldering
their swatters and oil cans and track
ing mosquitoes to their winter re-
sorts, where, enfeebled by drowsiness.
they may easily be slaughtered. Those
persons who cannot be prevailed upon
to scour the woods for mosquitoes are
being asked at least to search their
premises for any colonies that may
be alternating in the cellar or in the
back yard
Heretofore the determination of
mosquitoes has been left entirely to
the public health authorities. but this
year a special appeal for cooperation
Is made to householders because re-
cent investigation has shown that
there is much they can do to help.
When the mother mosquitoes get
ready to hibernate for the winter they
seek a dark and secluded spot. such
as a hollow tree, the moist under side
Of fallen 1og-or somebody's cellar.
comes they fiutter briskly to life and
dash forth to deposit their small
cylindrical eggs in boat-shaped
masses of the nearest stagnant body
OF water.
Marshes are favorite breeding
places, and so are quiet pools and
ponds but millions of mosquito OFF,
spring may readily be produced in a
barrel of rain water or even an un-
covered bucket. Tin cans strewn
about a trash pile and allowed to fill
with rain water also offer excellent
nj Il.
fants. BY removing all such tempting
abodes and by swatting at sight every
tiny light brown flying object every
one can render valuable aid in sub
DUNG this powerful insect enemy.
The mosquito is not only the most
Irritating Of all the insect hordes that
modest US. but 1t is also one Of the
most costly. A New Jersey commits
sion recently figured that mosquitoes
were holding up that states develop
ment to the extent OF s5OO,o0o,oOO and
advised the appropriation of $1,000
600 to exterminate them. AS 1T is,
eleven counties In New Jersey annu-
ally appropriate hundreds Of thou
sands Of dollars for determination
work. Other mosQuito-infested states
notably Florida and the gulf states
and New York's Long Island-also
spend large sums Of money every
year In attempting to rid themselves
Of this insect pest. which they claim
is fnjuring land values.
OIL Is Most Effective.
The determination work Is carried
on in various ways. While oil is
generally considered to be the most
effective exterminator and has been
used with great success on the salt
marshes Of New Jersey, some states,
such az Florida, where large water
areas surround practically every COM
remedies. At present Florida is try
ing out the bat roost idea which has
met with such spectacular success
in Texas.
Ten years ago certain areas of
Texas, particularly San Antonio and
its environs, where conditions are
similar to those In Florida, were hope
lessly infested with mosquitoes. Ma
laria was as common an amfction as
cold. Today Texas is largely free
Of mosquitoes, malaria has practical
suits were brought about by that
commonly despised creature-the bat.
The first bat roost was established
In the southwest section Of San An
most soIidly Mexican. The houses
were without screens, and in the sum-
mer the people slept out OF doors in-
der brush arbors. Naturally. the mos
quitoes took full advantage Of their
opportunities. and innumerable cases
OF malaria were the result. AS soon
as the colony OF bats was introduced
the benefit became apparent. The
number of malaria cases rapidly di-
minished until eventually the disease
idents. After short trial Of the cx-
pertinent the city was so impressed