Common Insect Enemies 119 



the New Jersey coast and make periodic forays into the neigh- 

 boring towns and villages to suck the blood of the hapless 

 inhabitants and visitors. However, New Jersey is rather sen- 

 sitive about its reputation as the mosquito capitol, and de- 

 cided to do something about it. A DDT-oil solution sprayed 

 over thousands of acres of marshlands killed millions of 

 mosquitoes and made life in New Jersey much more com- 

 fortable. Unfortunately, in their anxiety to do a good job, 

 the mosquito exterminators used more DDT than was neces- 

 sary, for the officials in charge were greatly disturbed to find 

 that many fish also succumbed to this mass attack. 



You may also have read about what they did in New 

 York to the mosquitoes along Jones beach — that magnificent 

 stretch of sand that is covered in the summertime with a 

 few beautiful and thousands of ugly, practically nude bodies, 

 much to the delight of the mosquitoes. One fine day, before 

 the bathers were permitted on the beach, clouds of a DDT-oil 

 m.ixture were generated and were carried inland by the gentle 

 ocean breeze. That afternoon and evening the bathers were 

 pleased, but surprised, to find that their fat bodies were, for 

 once, not blood banks for mosquitoes. 



For our military campaigns in the Pacific, mosquito 

 control was essential. You have heard of how entire islands 

 were treated with DDT and praaically all insect life elim- 

 inated. One Pacific island of 6,400 acres was sprayed with 

 a DDT-oil solution from a torpedo bomber, flying at a speed 

 of 125 miles per hour at an elevation of 150 feet. Ten gal- 

 lons of solution were sprayed per minute, and only 2 quarts 

 were applied per acre. Yet, this was sufficient to wipe out 

 all the insects. 



Saipan is a name that will long be remembered. In 

 addition to the Japs, our fighting men there had to contend 



