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Show Gambusia Affinis Fiend for 'Skeeters' Mosquito control in Utah will not be the big problem to conjure with that it is if scientists can enlist the aid of one Gambusia Affinis, small quick-moving fish, whose menu is mosquitoes, and more mosquitoes. The acclimatization of this semi-tropical semi-tropical fish to its Utah habitat has been the object of a special mosquito study by Don M. Rees, instructor of zoology at the University of Utah, working in conjunction with the United Unit-ed States Public Health service and local sanitation units. Starting with twelve Gambusia brought from Tennessee in 1931, Mr. Rees has succeeded to date in raising many thousand of the diminutive creatures, a feat that was thought impossible im-possible in a region so far north as Utah. The species was soon taken from the semi-tropical environment of the aquarium and placed in ponds northwest north-west of Salt Lake City. Experimentation Experimenta-tion showed that the fish survived in certain kinds of ponds, even over the winter. The full-grown fish is described as being almost two inches long. It is very prolific, bearing live offspring rather than hatching them from eggs as is the case with most fish life. It is insectivorous, but can be raised without difficulty in aquaria on a regimen of dried insects and rice flakes. As an eradicator of mosquitoes, Gambusia is more valuable than the earniverous chub, who, in addition to leecling on me larvae ot mosquitoes, also has a predilection for game fish. Even if Gambusia fails to get entirely used to the cold winters, he can be propagated for yearly distribution to mosquito breeding grounds. |