The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1954-06-25
Bv JACK HoNRINE

BY JACK HoNRINE
When a mosquito cuts an
opening in your skin, she i'm
mediately injects some saliva
through a tiny tube. This is to
prevent the blood from coagula-
ting. Another tube in her kit is
used for drawing up blood from
the incision.
The lady mosquito carries four
lances for piercing skin. Part OF
the cutting edges on two of the
lances have saw teeth. The min
ute the female solos from a stag
mated pool, she is fully equipped
for surgery. Neatly tucked under
her chin are no less than six skin
tools. The instruments are en-
cased in a sheath, especially
made for the purpose.
It couldn't be said that the
mosquito keeps her surgical tools
in a sheath to protect them from
germs. No, that would be mis-
conception Because the female
mosquito of the anopheline
genus is a germ carrier.
All species of mosquitoes do not
carry the same germs. Females
of the different breeds tend to
more or less specialize. For in
stance the anopheline peddles
malaria, while the Aedes aegypti
deals in yellow fever and other
not compete with one another,
human diseases. The insects do
usually, except in biting humans.
Yellow fever being a virus can
be transmitted from person to
person by hypodermic injection
and a mosquito bite isn't always
necessary. Setting aside blood
transfusions, the transfer of ma
laria from one person to another
cannot be affected without the
anopheline mosquito. The para
sites that cause malaria are de-
pendent upon several evolutions.
Half of these take place in the
digestive system of the mosquito
and the other half occur in the
red blood cells of the person bit
ten. The cycle starts in the insect,
when it bites a human who has
malaria.
You may be happy to know
that the parasites finally burrow
through the wall of the mosqul-
lto's stomach. Then other devel-
opmental phases take place be-
tween layers of the intestinal
walls of the mosquito. The para
sites finally get into the mos
uuito's saliva and it is from there
they go forth to spread malaria.
The mosquito we have been
discussing carries two other in
struments or tools. They are the
palpi, which are used for finding
the right place to bite. A mosqui-
to will not bite just anywhere.
She usually selects a suitable site
on your anatomy, preferably on
the leeward side. Even then she
may fail to strike blood the first
time.
1t can be seen that the mosqui-
to has several advantages that
YOU don't have, but don't give
up. There are numerouSe mos
lquito-bite preventatives on the
market, but the best one is to
prevent them from breeding.
Mosquitoes breed only in water,
despite opinions to the contrary.
The mosquitoes seen in grass,
weeds and chinaberry trees were
not born there. They are merely
playing hide-and-seek with their
enemies.
Rain water barrels, old tin
cans containg water and stag
nant bitches are all happy hunt
| ing grounds for mosquitoes seek
ing a breeding site. The malaria
mosquito breeds in fairly clean,
still bodies of fresh water, that
contain some vegetation.
The insect you want to watch
lis the one with spotted wings.
But a better Identification is the
way it sits down. The anepheline
mosquito, while resting or feed
ling appears to be standing on its
head.
| incidentally, malaria gets
lstarted in your blood through
the anopheline mosquitoes saliva,
which contains free-swimming
parasites.