I 14 THE AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 



not only a nuisance but are also conveyors of malaria, yellow 

 fever and denque fever. In some localities a great deal of work 

 has been done to rid the communities of this pest. The immature 

 stage are found in water. They breed in any place where there is 

 open water. Rain water barrels, tin cans, water troughs and 

 stagnant mud holes are generally the breeding places of these 

 pests. The eggs are laid on top of the water in rafts and as they 

 hatch the larva begin feeding upon the minute vegetable and 

 organic matter found in the water. The first step toward exter- 

 minating mosquitoes should always be to destroy their breeding 

 places. 



Destroying Breeding Places. 



One of the best methods is to pour oil upon the surface of 

 the water. All ponds and mud puddles that can be drained should 

 be drained. Rain water barrels and all vessels holding water 

 should be screened. Frequently if the weeds are cut around 

 ditches and low depressions holding water the breeding place will 

 dry out immediately. 



All tin cans should be buried or disposed of immediately. 

 All ornamental fish ponds and water gardens should be supplied 

 with fish that will eat the wrigglers. 



Screens. 

 Every home should have the windows and doors thoroughly 

 screened. Twenty meshes to the inch can be relied upon to keep 

 mosquitoes out but fifteen to the inch is better. When mosquitoes 

 are very numerous the screens should be painted lightly with 

 kerosene or oil of citronella. When buying screens it will be found 

 to be more economical to buy the brass wire screen as it will not 

 rust out like iron wire screen. The proper housing and painting 

 of screens will lengthen their period of usefulness materially. 

 Smudges and Fumigants. 

 Anything that will make a dense smoke will drive away 

 mosquitoes. The writer has found that straw makes an excellent 

 smudge for out-door parties. Campers frenquently use dried leaves. 

 For household use other material must be used. 



I. 

 Pyrethrin Powder. 

 Pyrethrin Powder can be purchased at any drug store. The 

 powder should be heaped up on a tin pan in the form of a cone 



