THE MURDEROUS MOSQUITO

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 31 December 1924, Page 10

THE MURDEROUS MOSQUITO

AN OBNOXIOUS GUEST

SPOILER OF THE SUMMER

Flies we. get accustomed to, but mosquitos—never. And through the summer we have the übiquitous “buzzer” with us wherever we go, and move particularly where we like to be —in cool spots and .shady, by the babbling brook and tho weeping willow tree, in fact, wherever we have water we have this ■winged torment, with its uncanny lamming and its dreaded sting, remarks the Auckland Star. Some people, through long suffering, have reached immunity—stung into it —but such fortune, if so It may* be called, comes hut to the few. Most people are attacked by the savage

' skeeter” summer after summer, from birth to death. Mosquitoes are partial to babies, and they' delight in the thick blood of the newcomer from colder climes, especially the youngsters, so that those who arrive here in the summer m:A’ often be known by' their spots. The mosquito prefers the dark. It will attack in the daytime also, but it. develops greater courage when the lights are low—as Algernon and Gertie, spooning under the roses at the front, porch, will tell you. In some localities the summer nights become a dread. Tho wearied toiler douses 1 I lie light, and tries to compose himself to sleep, when out, come the fierce armies of mosquitodom, noisy as a fleet of aeroplanes, swooping bed ward with the vacuum pumps of their proboscos going at top speed, seeking 1 Icod. Guide: 1 , both by sight and scent, they will find even an inch of exposed skin, and tho arms and feet outflung in sleep to seelc tho cool night air are set. upon and sucked at with avidity, while face and neck are assailed as a grazing ground available by hereditary* right. If every insect were as ferocious as tho mosquito, mankind would perish in a summer, literally tormented out of existence.

THE DEADLY FEMALE Fortunately in Auckland the mosquito is not a real danger to health, although it has its possibilities. In this connection it is interesting to note that, as witli spiders (and as Kipling rudely observed of humans) “the female of the species is more deadly than the male.'’ It is the female of the variety called anopheles which carries the dreaded malaria germ. It is known that mosquitos largely increase bacteria in water by their larvae, and they are strongly suspected of spreading several minor maladies, such as influenza, for instance; therefore jt is considered a highly desirable course to kill them wherever and whenever possible, and without ruth. Malaria is in some lorms a very deadly disease, and in any case it is always a most distressing complaint, persisting for years, and even for a lifetime. When the Australian troops occupied Rabaui (ex-German New Guinea), malaria played havoc with their healthy blood. All ' became more or less infected, some seriously, many fatally. Very speedily the medical officers of the new adminictration set forth on a campaign against the disease. Wisely, they commenced with the source of', infection—the mosquito—and the life of this dangerous tormentor was soon not worth living. All holes or crevices which could hold water were filled in, *large pools were surfaced with kerosene, even the crevices in the rough bark of trees which might hold moisture, were filled with concrete, and lo! the mosquito practically disappeared, and with the mosquito went malaria, untli Rabaui, despite its heat, is , now reckoned a healthy place to live in.

, A THOUSAND VARIETIES Scientists have devoted much time to the study' of the mosquito. They say that there are about one thousand distinct species of mosquito in existence, and they claim to have recognised, examined and classified no less than seven hundred of these One hopes that they did not have to suffer that number of bites for the sake of science. Popularly, it is believed that the mosquito is a habitat of only warm and temperate zones, but such is not the case. It is found everywhere, “from Greenland’s strand,” seeking* to assuage its lust for blood. In the summer it makes its presence felt even in the Arctic Circle, and it lias been heard buzzing and felt biting high up on the Himalayas. But Auckland’s concern is to rid Auckland of the. pest which is perhaps more easily planned for than accomplished, owing to the moist climate and the superabundance of water on and about the isthmus. But in the city itself the opportunity' offers for much good work in the way of clearing the mosquito out of its lurking places, It is said that the mosquitos retreat in endless thousands to the cellars of city business houses and hotels in the winter, to hibernate before sallying forth to torture humans in the spring and summer. Cleanliness is most desirable in keeping down the pest, for they will lurk and breed wherever water gathers, and old tins, bottles and other receptacles wili attract them.

DANGER! MEDICAL OFFICER’S VIEW “It is undoubtedly important that we, should endeavour to exterminate the mosquito,” said Dr. Hughes, Medical Officer of Health for Auckland, to-day. “Not. only is it a pest and a nuisance to householders, but. there is no knowing what- time it may become an absolute danger. Yes, it is strongly suspected of being a carrier of disease, apart from malaria and yellow fever; in fact there is a suspicion that it may be a spreader of infantile paralysis.”

“Various local bodies have been circularised fn n this office from time to time as to the various measures that should be taken by them in order to remove mosquito breeding grounds and to exterminate tho pest, but the councils seem to ho doing nothing to carry out a comprehensive campaign. The Government Entomologist, Mr Miller, has carried out valuable work on behalf of the Health Department in Auckland city and suburbs and in the North in regard to identifying various species of the mosquito and locating its habitats, but much remains to ho done in this respoot. Very little work has been undertaken by any of tho local bodies up to the present, and this is greatly to be regretted. What is required is a concerted and comprehensive campaign by the various local bodies against the pest. We have to glean the fullest information as to what mosquitos wo have and whether we have the types likely to become conveyers of malaria, yellow fever, or other dangerous endemic diseaso, Wo also want to formulate districts and ascertain the conditions present which require , attention, in order to remove breeding places and set about the work of extermination.”