387 



MOSQUITOS COLLECTED IN PALESTINE AND ADJACENT 



TERRITORIES. 



By Capt. P. J. Barraud, F.Z.S., F.E.S. 



These notes include observations made on the mosquito fauna of Palestine, for the 

 period July 1919 to August 1920. 



In September and October 1919 a somewhat rapid tour was made through Syria 

 and Cilicia, while from time to time short visits have been made to Egypt. 



The climate of this part of the Mediterranean region is divided into wet and dry 

 seasons, the latter usually prevailing from May to October, inclusive. In the northern 

 parts of Syria and Cilicia the dry season is of rather shorter duration. From 

 November to April there is a heavy rainfall over the larger part of Palestine and the 

 countries to the north, but in the lower Jordan Valley, and in the deserts of the 

 south, the amount is much less. The winter is mild, especially along the coastal 

 belt and in the lower Jordan region, the thermometer seldom falling to freezing point. 

 In some seasons there may, however, be a considerable snowfall in the mountains. 



With the advent of summer, the country quickly becomes arid. Rivers and 

 streams are few and insignificant, and the inhabitants of the towns and villages 

 are obliged to rely for the most part upon wells or supplies of rain-water collected in 

 catchment tanks. In certain parts of the country there are, however, perennial 

 streams, and in some cases these form extensive marshy tracts, affording breeding 

 grounds for mosquitos during the greater part of the year. Irrigation is practised 

 throughout the dry season in districts where the supply of water is sufficient from 

 springs or surface wells. 



The summer weather in the Jordan Valley can only be described as tropical. 

 Along the coastal plain there is usually a sea breeze, but when this fails, the moist 

 heat is often trying. The higher parts of the mountain ranges enjoy a succession of 

 hot sunny days, tempered by cool breezes, with a greater fall in the temperature at 

 night. The maritime plain, consisting for the most part of rich grain lands, orange 

 groves and olive yards, varies in width from a narrow strip where the mountains 

 approach the sea, to many miles where they recede. 



The mountains of Judea and the Galileean hills, rising here and there to 3,000 feet, 

 form the backbone of Palestine proper. They consist chiefly of barren limestone. 

 To the eastward they descend in tumbled masses to the Jordan Valley, a unique and 

 stupendous crack in the earth's crust, sinking to 1,200 feet below sea-level. On the 

 far side the mountains of Moab divide the valley from the tablelands of Bashan and 

 the Arabian desert. 



The larger part of Palestine, especially the central and northern regions, Syria, 

 and Cilicia are malarious. A fairly high percentage of the native population in 

 some of the towns and villages has been found to be infected, and well known 

 malaria-carrying species of Anopheles abound. The duration of the malaria season 

 roughly corresponds to that of the dry period, from May to November. 



