20 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



practicable in most cases and in sections where malaria is more or 

 less prevalent, is the only course to pursue. 



The malarial mosquito is widely distributed in the North and 

 there is always a chance of an outbreak following the appearance of 

 parties suffering from malaria or having the parasite in their blood, 

 as for example, Italians. The advent of either in a neighborhood 

 should be preceded if possible by extraordinary activity in draining 

 or treating breeding places in order to destroy as many of the in- 

 sects as possible and thus reduce the danger of infection. Methods 

 of value in controlling common mosquitos will be equally service- 

 able in checking this disease carrier. 



Yellow fever mosquito^ 



This, though a southern species, is of interest owing to its great 

 economic importance. It is a dark brown form, marked with 

 strongly contrasting silvery white, and is frequently designated as 

 the day mosquito in the South. 



Yellow fever carrier. This insect appears to be the only 

 agent by which yellow fever may be conveyed from one person to 

 another. As in the case of the malarial mosquito, the yellow fever 

 mosquito is harmless until it has become inoculated with the germs by 

 biting a yellow fever patient, and even then some 12 days must elapse 

 before it can convey the infection. As a result of the recent 

 discoveries relating to this insect, the control of a yellow fever 

 outbreak means a strenuous, well sustained campaign against mos- 

 quitos, supplemented by the exercise of special care to prevent their 

 gaining access to yellow fever patients. 



Habits and control. The yellow fever mosquito appears to 

 have in the South much the same habits as our house mosquito in 

 the North. It displays a marked preference for the water in 

 cisterns, tanks and similar places ; consequently measures of value 

 in reducing the house mosquito will prove equally serviceable in 

 controlling this much more dangerous southern species. 



Bedbug^ 



The brown, oval, flattened, malodorous insect so generally desig- 

 nated by the above name, is too familiar to require description. 

 It is especially likely to be abundant in old houses where cracks 

 and crevices abound, and its continuance therein is favored by 



^Stegomyia calopus Meign. 

 "Cimex lectularius Linn. 



