Mosquito Control, Washington, D.C.

Description

RIMENT OF FILM RELEASE OFFICE OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (PUBLIC AFFAIRS UNITED STATES of WASHINGTON, D.C. - 20301 PLEASE NOTE DATE IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 19, 1978 OXford 7-6161 Release # 50-78 Footage: 54' 16mm Color Master Room 2E 773 Time: 1:30 107509 009XXY MOSQUITO CONTROL 103298 106429 (Official U.S. Navy Film Released by Department of Defense) 106063 DATE/PLACE: This footage was taken during April and May 1978 at the Naval Research 104412 Laboratory, Washington, D.C. 103393 SCOPE: This coverage is of tests being conducted at the Naval Research Laboratory 106063 to control mosquito populations and minimize their adverse effects. BACKGROUND: The mosquito is well known as an annoying pest and the carrier of debilitating and sometimes deadly diseases. Efforts to control mosquito populations and minimize their adverse effects are high social priorities in many countries worldwide. While these efforts have often met with temporary success, they are always costly both in monetary expense and in terms of their adverse side effects on the environment. Scientists of the Naval Research Laboratory have now come up with a thin, clear, organic liquid that will spread spontaneously over the surface of standing bodies of water where mosquitos breed. The primary effect of the Naval Research Laboratory film is the reduction of surface tension on the water. Mosquito larvae normally attach themselves to the water's surface to breath while they are maturing. Once the Naval Research Laboratory film is applied, however, very few of the mosquito larvae are able to maintain their positions at the water's surface. As a result, most of them eventually sink to the bottom and do not survive. These thin films devised by the Naval Research Laboratory originally to corral oil spills in harbors and rivers, are not toxic, nor expensive, and a small amount spreads quickly to cover a lot of water surface. SEQUENCES Footage: Video: 6' Mosquitos. 13' Truck spreading insecticide. 12' Scientists in lab working with water pans and mosquito control film. 14' Mosquitos in jar. - MORE -

Collection

Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer

Series

Filmed News Releases