ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



A MOSQUITO OBJECT-LESSON 

 AT THE AQUARIUM 



By CHARLES H. TOWNSEND 



IF anything more were needed for the indictment 

 of the mosquito as a criminal deserving of the 

 death penalty, the trial conducted by the American 

 Mosquito Extermination Society in New York City 

 on December 15th and i6th would appear to have 

 furnished the evidence. 



The meeting was attended by medical men, ento- 

 mologists, and other citizens who have been prom- 

 inently before the public in the world-wide crusade 

 against the mosquito as the only known dissemi- 

 nator of malaria, yellow-fever, filariasis, and a uni- 

 versal enemy to the comfort of humanity. The 

 connection of the mosquito with disease, its rapid 

 propagation in standing water everywhere, its ex- 

 termination by the draining of swamps and the pro- 

 tection of water-tanks, and its elimination from 

 ornamental lakes and ponds by the introduction 

 of larvx-eating fishes were discussed at length. 

 Papers were read on the species of mosquitoes, 

 the work accomplished by boards of health, and 

 the progress made during the year in combating the 

 mosquito nuisance. 



The interesting exhibit of mosquito larvie hatch- 

 ing in stagnant water, which has been maintained 

 at the New York Aquarium during the past sum- 

 mer, attracted the attention of members of the 

 Mosquito Extermination Society several weeks ago, 

 and its value as an object lesson was commented 

 upon in their November Bulletin. 



In order that this exhibit might be seen by mem- 

 jjers attending the annual convention, it was ar- 

 ranged that the first session be held in the lecture- 

 room of the Aquarium. 



The Director of the Aquarium had prepared 

 especially for the meeting a series of exhibits show- 

 ing the mosquito in its larval, pupie, and fully ma- 

 tured stages. A series of acjuarium tanks contain- 

 ing specimens of fresh- and brackish-water fishes 

 useful as destroyers of mosquito larva; were also 

 ])ro\-ided. Three species of mosquitoes were ex- 

 hibited, one of which {Aedes jusciis) had not been 

 observed alive by many members. This is a very 

 small species which breeds largely in the pitchers 

 of the pitcher plant {Sarracenia), and which winters 

 in the larval stage. The .specimens of this species 

 were furnished by Mr. J. Turner Brakeley, of Hor- 

 nerstown, N. J. Dr. Kohnke, President of the New 

 Orleans Board of Health, furnished a large collec- 

 tion of mosquito larva: from Louisiana. 



The mosquito-hatching e.xhibit at the Aquarium 

 was observed during the summer by many thousand 

 persons. It is instructively labelled, and has at- 

 tracted much attention. Its value as an object les- 

 son suitable for schools and museums cannot be 

 overestimated. There has scarcely been a moment 

 during the open hours at the Aquarium when 

 visitors were not reading the labels of the mosquito 

 jars, and making comments on the wrigglers and 

 mosquitoes which they contained. Observations 

 by the attendants showed that the great majority 

 of persons who examined the exhibit made such 

 remarks as "Well, that's a new one on me!" or, 

 "I didn't know mosquitoes grew that way." The 

 label of one of the jars reads as follows: 



"Mosquitoes lay their eggs in clusters on the sur- 

 face of still water, such as is found in rain-barrels, 

 cisterns, ditches, stagnant ponds, undrained swamps, 

 and marshes. 



"Each female mosquito lays from 150 to 400 eggs, 

 which, in about a week, hatch into larvse or 'wrig- 

 glers.' About a week later the 'wrigglers' become 

 mosquitoes. The mosquito is the only known 

 source of malaria and yellow-fever. If the breeding 

 places of mosquitoes can be obliterated, malaria and 

 vellow-fever can be wiped out, and annoyance from 

 mosquito-bites avoided." 



Before leasing the exhibit, visitors were pretty 

 sure to express the hope that the mosquitoes in the 

 jars were not being turned loose. 



While scientific men are thoroughly informed as 

 to the danger which threatens mankind through the 

 existence of the mosquito, the work of educating the 

 public at large has not made the ])rogress, in some 

 parts of the country, which it should have made. 



Mosquitoes are found in all parts of the world. 

 Although all kinds of mosquitoes are not liable to 

 be the bearers of disease germs, there are dangerous 

 species in most countries. Mosquitoes of the genus 

 Anopheles, which are solely responsible for malaria. 



