NEW MOSQUITO, SISTER OF FEVER CARRIER, FOUND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18640, 18 December 1928, Page 15

NEW MOSQUITO, SISTER OF FEVER CARRIER, FOUND.

DANGEROUS PEST IN AUCKLAND FORESTS. (Special to the “Star.”) AUCKLAND, December 17. Mr David 11. Graham, research officer of the Mosquito Research Committee of the Auckland Museum, has found a deadly mosquito new to Auckland in the bush up at Waipoua, and even as near the city as in the bush at Helensville. The disquieting thing about this stranger is that she—for it is the female that does the biting—is a sister of the kind that disseminates yellow fever, and she bites day and night. “ In connection with my work, I went up to Waipoua Forest to look for new specimens,” said Mr Graham this afternoon, “ and I came across one which is very much more vicious than any we have in Auckland. The unusual thing about it is that this Waipoua mosquito bites in the daytime as well as night-time. That is most unusual, and it gives unfortunate people no chance of rest from its attentions. These mosquitoes come out of the bush in thousands, make for the camps of road workers and attack the men. Without exaggeration, I have seen men’s arms literally black with them. “ I have not identified the species yet, but the mosquito belongs to the genus Aedes. I do not say it is a new mosquito, but I do say it is new to Auckland. They breed in stagnant pools right in the heart of the forest up at Waipoua, but do not breed in water at the side of the road or in water caught in old tins, as other species will do. If this Aedes becomes domesticated, it will be very bad for us, as I am certain it is a sister of the mosquito which carries the germ of yellow fever. I saw people up north with lumps on them, not as large as hen’s eggs, but very near it, showing the virulence of the poison. Some of the workmen up there have been nearly half stunned; owing to the number of bites mosquitoes have inflicted. I may say I also found the same mosquito in some bush at Helensville. “ My job now is to find out whether the same species exists in any bush between Helensville and the city', and, of course, to see how we can set about eradicating the pest.”