N. J. Mosquito Extermination Association 59 



Einstein's Theory of Relativity, or Dr. Headlee's Theory of 

 ''Night Collections" as a detective agency for locating mosquito- 

 breeding places, will always produce interest, although, perhaps, 

 difficult to understand; and, if you happen to be from Missouri, 

 you will have to be shown. As a fact, can it be shown? 



THE REAIv ANSWER TO THE PROBEEM. 



The object o-f the mosquito extermination work is to prevent 

 the escape and to destroy the breeding of the insect. To accom- 

 plish this, divers well-recognized methods are employed. Also, 

 from a scientific standpoint the identification of the mosquito 

 is a great factor in determining the methods to be pursued in 

 their control and extermination. Quoting from the introduc- 

 tion of Vol. I of Mosquitoes of North and South America, by 

 Howard, Dyar and Knab, the authors, referring to the different 

 habits of the various species, write, ''It is necessary to distinguish 

 carefully in this respect. Only those species that are harmful 

 to man, or as annoying by their bites, need to be considered in 

 economic work. Much useless labor and expense can be avoided 

 by an accurate knowledge of the habits of the species." As no 

 better authority exists, it is certain that the catch and examina- 

 tion of mosquitoes should be made in order to carry out intelli- 

 gently the work of extermination. But, this does not mean to 

 apply to adults alone. The identification of larvae is just as im- 

 portant and just as certain of being established as is the identifi- 

 cation of the adults and because the larv?e are taken and kept 

 alive, there is the advantage of their being constantly under 

 observation. They can, if necessary, be forced to the adult 

 stage ahead of those remaining in the breeding place. The 

 identification of the adult would, in this event, serve as a check 

 on the first larv?e identification, and thus where it is found that 

 larvae, if allowed to mature, would produce adults to "carry 

 disease or to annoy by their bites," the breeding could be quickly 

 destroyed by oil spraying. 



That the identification of larvae is expected and intended to* 

 be made is certain for our authors say "the commonest mosquito 

 during the summer months in the Northern States is Culex ter- 

 ritans. * * ^ know^ that this species does not annoy 



man," etc. It is therefore, self evident that unless discovered 

 through identification of the larvae it may never be found. To 

 destroy these, however, would serve no purpose. 



As has been said, the ultimate object of both systems is the 

 same, namely to prevent and destroy breeding. The larvae 

 identification plan requires constant water inspection and analy- 



