SAM ON SKEETERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 888, 4 February 1930, Page 8

SAM ON SKEETERS

Have you, Gentle Reader, perrm,,! the recently published instructions hy the Department of Health on “Hcv to Deal With the Great Mosquilo Menace”? Sam has. And he undoubtedly impressed. In fact, B, v says that some parts of the article were so powerful that they brought eyes to his tears, and he considers that every child should be lorced to write them out 900,000 times or 1,000,000. At any rate, Sam thinS that they’re at least worthy of publishing, with a little passing com merit. Just to drive the point hoC of course. '■Mosquitoes:' writes the Heath Department, ‘-besides being i» , t .Y; instances the means of cont'eyial disease from one human being tn another, cause great annoyance in their bites." There! You can’t giggle that oft Sam says that that paragraph amounts to genius, because he’s noticed he same thing himself. There are four distinct stages. Sam says that reading from norta lo south these are:— (1) Nothing. (2) Bite. (3) Lump. (4) Nothing. The burden of the cry of the female mosquito is ‘‘Give us blood!" Sam says that the last time he heard a female mosquito crying, hli translation was slightly different However, he says he is quite willing to waive that point.

In about a week , if the weather is warm, the larva casts its skin and turns into a comma-shaped body called the ‘‘Pupa" or ‘'Nymph." Sam says that this may be all right, but one should be very careful alout these things. He says he called one a Pupa to it’s face once, and it went all asterisk-shaped and bit him on the shin. All of which wrecked his afternoon. Male mosquitoes are vegetarians; it is only the female that bites. Sam blushed all over when he rend this. He says he hates to think ot the last mosquito bite that lie had. The control of the mosquito is largely the control of the breeding places. Certain natural enemies arc of service. Fish are very effective. Ornamental Ponds may be stocked with goldfish or minnows. Dragon flies and water beetles arc also rerp useful. Anything which collects water should be dealt with. Sam says that he tried goldfish and minnows in his bath, bat he got to badly bitten that now- he uses water beetles.

About one kerosene tin full of water beetles to one bath. Then te stands in the wash-basin and sponges himself. Water should be sprayed teith kerosene and castor oil. The follotcing larvicidcs arc effective: (1) Commercial Cyllin, one teaspoonful to the gallon of water. (2) Coal tar, out pint; turpentine, one pint; soft soapone ounce, water to make up to W* gallons. A mixture that Sam has found very effective is nitric acid, one quart; ink two gallons; hoot-polish, eight tine; the whites of four eggs; salt; peppe" Beat the eggs into the ink, add the nitric acid slowly, stir in the bocipolish until the mixture is stiff. Season with salt and pepper, garnish and serve cold. After that, it is a simple matter to catch the larva and to wring its nec»Another good way is to walk abost until the mosquito bites you, then swat him. If there are many of the® biting you at the same time a good plan is to mash them. Citronella oil will protect the fvt and hands to some extent. V stains the clothes, the stain can removed by oil of turpentine. And if the oil of turpentine stain 5 the clothes the stain can be removes by eucalyptus, and if the eucalypm stains the clothes, try using benzm e _ and if the benzine stains the clothe* throw the beastly things out the wflr dow and go down to the tailor ah® order a fresh suit. In fact, ? might as well do that to start wit ■ Sam says it would save a great <* e of trouble.