NATURAL ENEMIES 



One often hears others say that there is a natural 

 "balance" in nature which should not be disturbed, 

 and this argument is frequently advanced against the 

 efforts of those engaged in mosquito control. It may 

 be balm to such individuals to know that mosquitoes 

 have also their natural enemies, if man can indeed be 

 considered an unnatural enemy. 



Among the less efficient enemies, owing to small 

 numbers, are the dragon flies (Odonata), or mosquito 

 hawks, also called "snake doctors" and "devil's 

 darning needles." These insects may be seen in the 

 evening darting hither and thither capturing mos- 

 quitoes and midges on the wing. 



The more effective enemies are found among the 

 surface-feeding fishes, which are practically all of 

 small size. Unfortunately, where mosquito larvae are 

 found there are also abundant other aquatic insects, 

 so that the stock of fish must be correspondingly large 

 in order to hold in check the insects aimed at. In 

 such places where it is desirable to apply oil and the 

 water is not too shallow throughout its entire extent 

 fishes may play an important role ; indeed the same 

 thing may hold true in bodies of water where it is 

 possible to apply oil. It can readily be seen that to 

 transplant fish into anything but permanent bodies 

 of water would be very poor policy. Ornamental 



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