Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1929-03-29
WOULD ELIMINATE
STATE MOSQUITOES
[Csatimned from frst psSe1

in the State, instead of avoiding
these places because when darkness
arrives the mosquitoes will get you
if you don't look out?'
''The average cost of controlling
mosquitoes on the salt marshes in
New Jersey has been approximately
$500 per acre. Assuming this as an
average cost per acre for Delaware
conditions, the total cost for con-
trolling $4,000 acres would be about
$450,000. A five-year program with
an appropriation of 100000 annual
ly would be a feasible plan enabling
the work to be planned advantage
ously and economically. After the
bitches are dug and other control
work completed there would be a
yearly maintenance fund necessary
for maintaining from year to year
the bitches dug previously. The
maintenance cost is estimated usu-
ally at per cent of the money spent
on drainage work or approximately
at the end of the five-year period
$4,000 annually.
"The above figures do not include
mosquito control work in towns ex-
cept those towns in which marshes
are found within the towns limits.
The common house mosquito flies
but a short distance and can be
readily controlled by the town peo-
pie. Each town in that case could
blame no one but themselves for the
mosquitoes.
Cost Not PrOhibitiye
Putting the cost of mosquito con-
troll work in terms of other magniti-
cent improvements made in this
State, such mosquito eradication
work could be done for the cost of
twenty miles of concrete highway
as now constructed by the State OF
Delaware or for the cost of two
modern schools such as found at
Lewes and Laurel. Is it not worth
the price,"
New Jersey has been the pioneer
in getting rid of the mosquito. With
in a few weeks, Engineer Beckett
with representatives of civic organ
izations of Delaware will make a
tour of the sections in New Jersey
that are fighting the mosquito and
those counties where they have en-
tirely eliminated breeding places.
The area being attacked embraces
100000 acres of salt marsh, mosqul-
to breeding areas. Those that have
entirely drained their marshes have
experienced a tremendous increase
in property value and the value of
land.
1.-THE flight range of mosquitoes
differs with the species" said Mr..
Beckett 1.-THE little mosquito which
carries dengue and yellow fever i'm
igrates. at most, only few hundred
yards during its life.
"The MOSQUITO capable of trans
hitting malaria fever ordinarily has
a fight range of less than a mile.
This is also true of the house mos
quito. the one found breeding COM
monty on your own property
"In this country the salt marsh
MOSQUITO holds the record as tray
eIer. Numbers of them have been
found thirty to forty miles from
their breeding grounds. Light winds
affect the flight of mosquitoes Win
the warm humid winds OF low We
locity being most favorable for
TRANSPORTATION. The malaria mos
0uito elects to fly against light
breeze. The male mosquito does not
travel far. AS a rule, he remains at
or in close proximity to the breeding
place. MI
eThe desire for blood may be re-
snonsible for the female mosquito |
heing a great traveller. Unless she is |
of the species which breeds only in |
inhabited sections, and unless ample |
blood is found near the breeding
area. she goes in search OF it. Hence |
if is seen that the desire for blood |
by the female has great deal 10 uo
with the distance she Will n.y.
Ordinarily, mosquitoes dlsilKe
sunlight, and, during the DrlghC
hours of the day, seclude themselves
in vegetation or in buildings, incl
dentaily their habit has been the
cause of the erroneous idea that
mosouitoes breed in vegetation,
weeds and buildings. They merely
find a resting place, until it becomes
fore suitable for them to sally tortn
and attack U.S."
Roughly there are $4,000 acres Oh
salt marsh breeding areas along the
Eastern border of Delaware, OF
which appro m y
~ mn acres are in New Castle
County, $4,000 in Kent county anu
$4,000 in Sussex. Within a circle
drawn from the capitol at Dover ana
with a radius of four miles, there
are $500 acres of salt marsh mos
nuito areas, and in the circle within
a six-mile radius there is an addl-
tional area of 10000 acres. The
swamps which occur on the upland
above tidal reach are also eliminated
nv bitches which eventually con-
meet into tidal waters. Occasionally
small areas are filled in, although
ditching is the standard practice.
At times oiling is necessary TO take
care of mosquitoes that are apt TO
breed before the necessary Dram
age work can be done. Inc OIL Is
snread as a thin film on the water
every ten days and acts mostly 10
suffocate the larva, although there
is some toxic action depending on
the type of oil used. II
"Fresh water mosquito areas ana
woodland pools are controlled PIT
marilv by small drainage dltches
and occasionally by filling in and Dy
the use of oil, where the other TWO
methods are not practicable or mon s
ey is not available for permanent
work.
"The house mosquito or CuleX
pipien is found mostly in fresh wa {
ter bodies or running streams win