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Article on MOSQUITOES |
Control of mosquitoes is achieved by two methods: a. Prevention of breeding. b. Use of insecticides against larvae, pupae and adults. The most common breeding sites found on Gan are: Tins, Bottles, open surface drains, fire buckets, discarded buckets, basins, large tins, old tyres, coconut husks, static puddles, WC's and cisterns. Prevention of breeding in the first seven is a relatively simple matter. The old Indian Army had a day designated as a dry day once a week. On this day personnel of all sections would scour the surrounds of their buildings and any discarded articles capable of holding even small quantities of water were collected and placed in dustbins. Articles such as fire buckets were emptied, cleaned and refilled. The repetition of this practice every seventh day effectively breaks the ten-day cycle necessary for development from egg to adult. Any Section found to be harbouring breeding sites within their surrounds were in for a severe rocket. - GAN??? Defective plumbing of any type should, of course, be reported on form 5653. The use of larvicide's and insecticides is restricted to trained personnel. All buildings on camp are sprayed periodically with residual insecticides. All female mosquitoes rest either before or after taking a blood meal and it is during these rests that she will absorb a lethal dose of insecticide. If you have just been bitten by a type that rests afterwards then it may afford some small measure of consolation to know that the bastard is going to die anyhow! The swing-fogging that is carried out almost daily in the domestic area is aimed at a quick knock-down of adults and has no residual properties. Incidentally, although it may not taste very nice when you are in the middle of your breakfast, the insecticide used in the swing-fog is harmless to man. As can be expected on an island only five feet above sea level and with an annual rainfall somewhere in the region of one hundred inches, large areas of Gan do remain water-logged for long periods following prolonged rain. These areas are treated with larvicide's and waste oil, which, since it is not water miscible, drowns the larvae by sealing them off from oxygen. Well, that's it, and the next time the BBC Forces Chance quiz team come to Gan you can tell them quite authoritatively that mosquitoes do not sting |
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