MOSQUITO DESTROYERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 314, 27 March 1928, Page 12

MOSQUITO DESTROYERS

MUCH-TRAVELLED FISH INTRODUCTION TO N.Z. Much travelled and sprightly little fellows, who are out for the relief of mosquito-bitten Aucklanders, landed to-day under the protection of Dr. T. J. Hughes, .medical officer of health. TN a couple of tins of water in the doctor’s cabin on the Marama the “gambusia afiinis” were registering interest in life and the crumbs of bread floating round the top this morning. The fact that they had come originally from Mexico, and had visited Italy and Australia, had not turned their heads in the slightest. They seemed perfectly pleased with the prospect of early liberation m the pond of the Domain (if the City Council consents) and of feasts from the larvae of the mosquito, dreaded of Auckland’s summer pests. The “gams,” to shorten the name somewhat, are, when full-grown, about an inch to an inch and a-half long and they look like small “bullies.” Dr. Hughes received them from Dr. Purdy, medical officer of health in Sydney. About 100 of the fish have arrived and the only mortality on the voyage was an unfortunate relapse into cannibalism, whereby one of them suffered fatal injuries. Dr. Hughes has kept what remains of the body. The “gams” have been used extensively ifi America and Italy to fight the mosquito pests. The Auckland City Council will be asked to co-operate in an attempt to give these larvae-destroyers a good start in New Zealand.