Handbook of Medical EntomologyRiley, William A. (William Albert)
Science
Handbook of Medical Entomology
Riley, William A. (William Albert)
Insect pests; Insects as carriers of disease; Medical parasitology
In any case, there is necessity for community action. Even near the
coast, where the migratory species are dominant, there are the local
species which demand attention and which cannot be reached by any
measures directed against the species of the salt marshes. The most
important of local measures consist in the destruction of breeding
places by filling or draining ponds and pools, clearing up of more
temporary breeding places, such as cans, pails, water barrels and the
like. Under conditions where complete drainage of swamps is
impracticable or undesirable, judicious dredging may result in a pool or
series of steep-sided pools deep enough to maintain a supply of fish,
which will keep down the mosquito larvæ. Where water receptacles are
needed for storage of rain water, they should be protected by careful
screening or a film of kerosene over the top of the water, renewed every
two weeks or so, so as to prevent mosquitoes from depositing their eggs.
When kerosene is used, Water drawn from the bottom of the receptacle
will not be contaminated by it to any injurious extent. Where ponds
cannot be drained much good will be accomplished by spraying kerosene
oil on the surface of the water, or by the introduction of fish which
will feed on the larvæ.
Detailed consideration of the most efficient measures for controlling
mosquitoes is to be found in Dr. Howard's Bulletin No. 88 of the Bureau
of Entomology, "Preventive and remedial work against mosquitoes" or, in
more summarized form, in Farmers' Bulletin No. 444. One of these should
be obtained by any person interested in the problems of mosquito control
and public health.
[Illustration: 74. Mouth parts of Simulium. After Grünberg.]
The Simuliidæ, or Black Flies
The SIMULIIDÆ, or black flies, are small, dark, or black flies, with a
stout body and a hump-back appearance. The antennæ are short but
eleven-segmented, the wings broad, without scales or hairs, and with the
anterior veins stout but the others very weak. The mouth-parts (fig. 74)
are fitted for biting.
The larvæ of the Simuliidæ (fig. 75) are aquatic and, unlike those of
mosquitoes, require a well ærated, or swiftly running water. Here they
attach to stones, logs, or vegetation and feed upon various
micro-organisms. They pupate in silken cocoons open at the top. Detailed
life-histories have not been worked out for most of the species. We
shall consider as typical that of _Simulium pictipes_, an inoffensive
species widely distributed in the Eastern United States, which has been
studied especially at Ithaca, N.Y. (Johannsen, 1903).
[Illustration: 75. Larva of Simulium, (×8). After Garman.]
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