Meet Mr. Mosquito

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 573, 28 January 1929, Page 8

Meet Mr. Mosquito

AUCKLAND’S SEVEN SPECIES Life and Habits Studied NEXT time a mosquito bites, don't get angry and kill him. He is worthy of respect. II(\ is not a common Smith. Jones or Robinson mosquito. Xo. Mr. Aucklander —far from it. lie probably belongs to the Aedes Notoseriptus family, with headquarters in the Grafton Gully, or perhaps he is a scion of that noble line, Culex Fatigans; or again he may be little “Willie” Culex Pervigiljftis, just bubbling over with youthful spirits. Be kind to the aristocratic visitor, please!

COME! information on the habits of the mosquito family was given at this morning’s meeting of the Science Congress when Mr. David H. Graham read a paper on “Mosquitoes of the Auckland Province.” Mr. Graham is engaged in research work into the habits of these insects. “I have so far identified seven species, belonging to five genera, and all of the sub-family Culicinae,” said Mr. Graham. “Fortunately none of

them belong to the sub-family to which the transmitter of malaria belongs. Two of the species belong to the same genus as the yellow fever but to a different sub-genus in eacb case.

“If while you are staying in Auckland you are bitten at night, the offender will be one of the two species of Culex, both small grey or brown mosquitoes, only distinguishable in appearance from each other by certain markings on the thorax. “Culex pervigilans, a New Zealand species, will breed in any kind of wafcsr moderately clean or foul—but Culex fatigans, which is of world-wide distribution, must have foul water to breed in. Culex pervigilans is confined to New Zealand. It is not yet certainly known from outside this country. Culex fatigans is widely distributed throughout the world; it is the distributor of elephantiasis in New Guinea, Fiji and Queensland; it is also credited in other parts of the world with being the transmitter of dengue fever.”

The Culex species, said the lecturer, were domestic species and generally bred near houses. Culex

fatigans had been found around Auckland city only, and it was possible it was an introduced form. Another well-known Auckland city specie* was Aedes Notoseriptus. a black and white spotted mosquito, which frequented sheltered gullies, shrubberies, neglected gardens and orchards, and native bush. Outside of Auckland city, but in the province, Aedes Antipodeus. a whitespotted insect like its relative, was comlnon.

“It is apparently not* a member of any trade union, for it keeps on at its job—biting seems to be its job—for the whole of the 24 hours,” said Mr. Graham. “It seems to be our most poisonous species, its bites cause large painful swellings and induce marked lassitude. Workers who have been severely bitten by Aedes antipodeus have been described to me by their companions as appearing to be halfdrunk, and they have to leave the bush for a time to recover from the effects of the bites.

“Another sylvan species, apparently restricted to the native bush, is the very appropriately named Taeniorhynclius inacundus,” continued the speaker. “It remains in the bush during the day, but at dusk invades dwellings in enormous numbers and causes much annoyance by its persistent attacks. The bites induce small yellowish swellings surrounded by large red areas of inflammation. These swellings disappear and reappear periodically for several days, each reappearance causing distressing irritation. Although this mosquito comes into the houses only at night, it will bite readily at all times in the bush. This species is endemic, and so far, has not been found south of Oliakune.” Rachionoyomyia argyropus was another large sylvan species of a blueblack colour, easily identified by its white feet. It was also endemic to New Zealand and had been recorded from Nelson to Auckland. It was a persistent night biter, attacking directly, and fairly quietly. Its bites were painful, and people who were immune from other species, were attacked by it. The speaker said that lakes containing fish were free from mosquito larvae. Many suggested remedies fqr the prevention of the breeding of y? pest were now being considered. “While it is very fortunate that in Auckland or in New Zealand, we do not appear to have any mosquitoes sq, far whiclEtransmit dangerous diseases, nevertheless they «re a 'very serious annoyance to members of the community for both town and country have the mosquito pest,” said Mr. Graham. “The annoyance caused by their attacks is fairly generally experienced, and many people suffer real pain and, in some cases, serious illness from their poisonous bites. It is therefore a matter of grave public concern that this annoyance should be reduced as far as possible. “Finally, I would repeat the growing conviction in my mind that stock, particularly dairy stock, suffers considerably from mosquito attacks and that the mosquito pest may actually be affecting to some extent the milk yield ih the province.”