Mosquito Pest

Some Common breeding Places

THERE is no malaria in Fiji; and Dr.

S. R. Baxter, Fiji Medical Officer of Health, in an article in the “Agri cultural Journal”, suggests that Fiji thereby is unlucky. If the mosquitoes did carry the fever, some concerted attack would be made against them, and Suva would not have to endure the plague it now knows.

Incidentally, Dr. Baxter says that the anopheles mosquito (malaria carrier) does not exist in the Group. This is a surprising statement. It has been said, more than once that the anopheles is in Fiji and Samoa, just as it is in North ern New South Wales; but, for some mysterious reason, it has never intro duced malaria to those groups, nor to sub-tropical Australia.

Dr. Baxter lays much emphasis on the ease with which mosquitoes breed in and near human dwellings, if there is care lessness in leaving stagnant water for them. “It is an undoubted fact that if your house is pestered with mosquitoes, you can always find their breeding place, if you look for within 100 yards. I cannot stress this fact too strongly.”

The doctor gives a list of places where he has found mosquitoes breeding in Suva. His warning applies to every com munity in the Islands.

Water in receptacles under legs of meat safesr—usually in kitchens.

In drums, tins, coconut shells and old motor tyres in private grounds—especi ally if overgrown with weeds.

In water tanks, in institutions such as schools and hospitals.

In drums, drain pipes, old machinery and lorry parts stored by contractors.

The most prolific source I found in Suva was the old town septic tanks, near the new Government Buildings. I am not exaggerating when I say these contained millions of mosquito larvae.

In a punt on a slipway. Any vessel left open to the rain is likely to breed mosquitoes after a week or so. The punt was practically solid with mosquito larvae.

In ponds in private grounds. In plates under ferns ®n the verandah of a prom inent hotel. In flower-bowls in private houses.

In flower cases and open graves at the cemetery.

In holes in trees. The main offenders in Suva are “ivi” trees, old flamboyante trees, bamboo clusters, pawpaw trees, in cut banana stumps and in banana leaves left on the ground.

In holes in swampy ground left by cattle trampling about.

In obstructed and sagging roof gutters in private houses.

Rev. A. C. Cato, of Fiji, is at present in Melbourne on furlough. He is a Metho dist missionary.

Dr. Brossier, formerly stationed at Santo, New Hebrides, has been appointed to Hienghene, New Caledonia.

Mr. H. H. Jurgens, of Rabaul, New Guinea, is at present en route to Belgium by the “Stassfurt”.