332 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST 



Tne occurrence of Rhyncholophus sp. on Lepidoplera, observed at 

 Kaslo, B.C. 



The occurrence of small ticks on the bodies of specimens of 

 Lepidoptera has often been brought to my attention when ex- 

 amining freshly captured specimens. 



I submitted some of the specimens to Dr. C. Gordon Hewitt, 

 who wrote me that they were a species of Rhyncholophus, a mite 

 which attaches itself to insects upon which it feeds. All the 

 family are predacious and wander over plants and soil in search of 

 prey. 



My records of their occurrence during last spring show a wide 

 range of host; specimens were taken from the following list. The 

 number after the name denotes the number taken from each 

 specimen listed. Amongst the Noctuids I noted 



Tceniocampa communis Dyar, 7. 

 Tceniocampa curtica, 2 

 Hadena dubitans, 1. 

 Peridroma nigra, 3. 

 And on the Geometers 

 Mesoleuca intermediala, 1. 

 Ccenocalpe magnoliata, 1. 



The extreme variation in the size of these mites ranged from 

 1.4 mm., for the largest, to 0.4 mm. for the smallest specimen. 



The colour in all cases was bright red, which is maintained in 

 the specimens when mounted, provided that they arc not sub- 

 merged in ether too long, in which case the colour is either entirely 

 lost in the smaller specimens or remains a dull orange. 



The usual point of attachment is in the fold between the 

 thorax and abdomen under the wings, but in one case I found one 

 attached to the median nervule on the underside of the primary. 



They are very resistant towards cyanide". Moths which had 

 been placed in the killing bottle for over one hour were found to 

 have mites attached, and these proved to be alive when examined 

 the following morning. 



J. Wm. Cockle, Kaslo, B. C. 



Mailed September 8th, 1<)!4. 



