THE MOSQUITO PROBLEMS OF QUEENSLAND. 
3 
that in future the house-tank will not continue to be a feature of Queens- 
land architecture. In many towns, tanks are still a regular feature, in 
spite of the fact that the town water-supply is quite soft enough for 
ordinary domestic purposes. When the town water is hard, water- 
softening, either at the source or in the home, will do away 'with the 
necessity for a tank. From the point of view of mosquito control this 
is most desirable; but it is also desirable for economic reasons, for the 
upkeep and frequent need for replacement involves a heavy drain on 
the house-owner. Also, tanks at their best are ugly, and the sooner their 
use is discontinued the better. 
The other important domestic species is Cxdex fatigans, the common 
brown house mosquito. Like Aedes aegypti, it is found all over the world 
and is well established throughout Australia. Culex fatigans is a night- 
biter and throughout the summer is responsible for most of the mosquito 
worry in houses and other dwellings. During the early years of the war, 
in most of the camps in eastern Australia, this mosquito definitely 
affected the efficiency of the men, causing loss of sleep, worry and fatigue. 
Its nuisance is of more importance than its ability to carry disease. How- 
ever, it is the chief vector of a disease known as Filariasis, which, 
according to a survey made in 1926, is rather common in the coastal 
towns of Queensland. In that survey, the average percentage of people 
infected with Filariasis was 12 per cent. Amongst the native population 
of many of the islands of the S.W. Pacific slightly more than 20 per 
cent, have been found to be infected with some form of Filariasis. 
Cidex fatigans is essentially a domestic species and breeds in 
polluted water in and adjacent to towns and villages. The common 
breeding-places are holes and gutters, and drains contaminated by the 
sullage water from the kitchen. In many country towns the main town 
sewer is run into a nearby creek, which becomes a permanent breeding- 
place, producing enough mosquitoes to infest the vdiole towui area. 
Gully-traps, small domestic drains, and small holes and tins containing 
polluted water are all likely to breed this mosquito. It is most prolific, 
and in a suitable water a single random scoop with an ordinary soup 
ladle has yielded over 2,300 larvae. 
Control of Culex fatigans. 
Permanent control can only be achieved by the elimination of every 
breeding-place in the city and suburbs and for a radius of about three 
to four miles beyond the limits of the town area. It should be the 
responsibility of the ratepayer to eliminate all breeding-places on his 
own property. The Council or Shire should undertake the construction 
of water-channelling, the extension and control of the town sew r er, and 
the elimination of all breeding-places on vacant unclaimed land. 
Considering the domestic mosquito problem as a whole, the most 
essential requirement for its control is to educate the members of the 
community to realise their duty and obligation in the matter. Any town, 
provided the ratepayers have been taught what, to do and wffiy it is 
necessary, can eradicate the domestic mosquitoes in five years. It is the 
one problem which can be solved in a relatively short time. The weak 
point is the difficulty in educating the adult section of the community. 
Health inspectors can do a great deal, but they will have to be assisted 
by a very intensive campaign, making use of the press, radio, and other 
general means of propaganda. The campaign must be persevered with 
for a number of years. 
More success will probably be obtained by concentrating on school 
children, and such a campaign has already commenced. The school child 
