Other Mosquitoes

A Mosquito Which Destroys Other Mosquitoes

THE following appeared in Honolulu!

Star-Bulletin of November 15;— Eighteen mosquito-eating mosquitoes; arrived in Hawaii recently after a ninei day journey from their South Africani home. They were survivors of the 221 larvae which orginally started the jaunt.

Known as the “elephant mosquito” ini Africa, this insect confines its cannibalistic instincts to its larvae stage, feeding oni larvae of other mosquitoes.

Its scientific name is Megarhinus Brevinalpis.

Dr * David D. Bonnet, medical entomologist with the territorial health department, says the first Hawaiian born larvae of the elephant mosquito have just been hatched.

They are to be used as breeding stock in the laboratory. But when production allows it, some are to be released in surroundings here suitable for their survival, according to Dr. Stephen M. K.

Hu, chief of the bureau of mosqultc C °He °adds that he eventually hopes they can be introduced on all the islands.

This particular mosquitos curved proboscis (beak), which is present in the adult stage, makes it impossible for i to bite humans. It feeds on flower nectar and ripe fruits. It feeds on the larvae of other mosquitoes only when it u. itself in the larvae stage . „ The elephant mosquito is strictly * forest insect and is rarely found near houses surv i ve i n natural surroundings here, it will help control the Aedes albopictus (forest day mosquito) which breeds in great numbers inrock and tree holes and water holding plants Health officials say that although extensive control measures have beer pmcUcld. the presence of numerous breeding places that are inaccessible make the control of the forest day mosquito extremely difficult and costly.

It is hoped the elephant mosquito ma., provide the answer to that problem.