1904 



ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



39 



J a this important matter, should place and carry out means of extermination, 

 should secure information regarding the distribution of mosquitoes in this 

 country, and disseminate information throughout the infested areas. It haa 

 leen proved that mosquitoes can be exterminated from an infested locality 

 by a thorough drainage of the meadows and swamps, and by careful atten- 

 tion to standing water in pools, ditches, ponds, tanks, cisterns, wells, cess- 

 pools, so as to have them drained or covered. 



On account of the great importance of the subject, I would suggest that 

 our Society take measures to begin an active anti-mosquito campaign. 

 \luch could be done during the coming year to call the attention of the public 

 to the fact that mosquitoes can be exterminated, and I am sure that our pub- 

 I'C men throughout the country would come to our aid as soon as practicable 

 propositions were laid before them. As Dr. Howard says : "When we con- 

 eider the enormous sums of money spent for luxuries, how much more should 

 be spent for bare comfort and peace !" 



Fig. 7. Malarial Mosquito (Anopheles), male on left, female on right hand of 



figure . 



The last illustration of Entomological work of great importance is the 

 •successful introduction of the Caprifig insect (Blastophaga grossorum) from 

 Southern Europe for the fertilization of the Smyrna figs in California. For 

 seme years attempts had been made to produce Smyrna figs in California, but 

 •vuthout success. The failure was due to the fact that the flowers of these 

 figs were all female, and there was no natural mode of pollination. It is well 

 known that the fine flavor of the figs imported from Smyrna is due to the fact 

 that the fig flowers there are fertilized by pollen from the Wild Caprifig. 

 When branches of the Wild Caprifig bearing figs are tied to branches of th^ 



