218 Agricultural Gazette of N.S. IF. [Mar. 2, 1908. 



Description of tlie Mite. 



The cliicken mite is coiinnouly considered a fnini of insect life, altluiiigh it is nut, 

 jii()])eily s|ieakin!.', an insect. It is sometimes called the ciiicken tick, or poultry tick. 

 It would ])rolKibly he better to apply the term tick to this parasit*, and reserve the word 

 mite for the true itch mite of chickens, the SarropttH niitann (Robin and Laiiipietin). 

 The mite has an average length of one twenty-fifth of an inch, and its width is about 

 four-fifths of its length. It has eight legs by means of which it can move very rapidly 

 from place to phice. In colour it is light grey witii small dark spots showing through 

 the skin. 



About one in fifty or one hundred shows a distinct iyely red coloui', varying from alight 

 to a dark red. This red colour is due to engorgement with blood. The common white 

 louse of the hen, Mpnopon pallitlum (Nitsch), is longer than the mite and of a yellowish- 

 white colour. Much ai<l will be given by a hand magnifier. 



The mites are of peculiar and stealthy habits of life, ratiier unlike that w liich one 

 naturally expects from a [)arasite. Indeed they are only semi-parasitic, and, as a rule, 

 remain upon the fowl only long enough to secure a meal. Tiiey are very active in their 

 movements, and seem to Ije evtr on the lookout for a victim. 



(Jn account of their vigorous and vicious habits they may be styled the wolves of the 

 insect parasites of fowls. The mites hide in crevices and under objects in the hen-house 

 during the daytime while the chickens are outside, and lie in wait for their return. Tiiey 

 lay their eggs and the young are iiatclied in these hiding ])laces. A barrel atl'ords an 

 excellent hilling and breeding jdacc, as the mites lodge between the staves and under the 

 hoops. In the nests they are found to be under the straw or otiier nesting material. It 

 is a noteworthy fact that a place which sliows only a few mite.s on the surface may 

 contain vast numbers in the crevices or under objects. 



Often they Ijecome so plentiful that they overflow the hiding-places and appear in 

 hordes upon the exposed surfaces. I have observed tiiem so thickly settled as to cover 

 the upper edge of an inch l)oard and down the sides for a distance of 2 inches 

 throughout 4 feet of its length, and at the same time in almost as great niunbers in 

 neighbouring places. On one occasion when the upper border of the nest-box was 

 covered by mites, as above described, a hen went upon the nest to lay. Within ten 

 minutes I noticed that at least three-fourths of the mites had left their position on the 

 box. On lifting ofl" the hen and examining her I found her to be swarnung with mites. 



Introduction of Mites into a Flock. 



In one case I was able to determine with certainty that the mites were introduced 

 into a flock l)y a rooster that had been liought in a neighbouring flock, which proved on 

 examination to be badly infected with mites. There is no doubt that mites maj' be 

 carried from one premises to another upon all sorts of intermediate bearers. 



To provide against infection of a flock in this manner any new fowls which are brought 

 in from infected premises should be ipiarantined and treated l)y dusting with pyrethrum 

 powder until all the mites have been destroyed. , 



Extermination of Ciiicken Mites. 



In one case I tried to exteiiiiinate the mites in a hen-house by means of fire applied 

 with a torch, but the attempt was unsuccessful. The flame was applied to the mites 

 that were visiltle, and they were destroyed. But the proc^ess was slow, and care had to 

 be taken so as not to set fire to the building. As soon as the interior had all been gone over 

 once, it was found that the mites covered it as thickly as before, thisy having crawled 

 out from their hiding-places. It was necessary to go over it several times before the 

 number aj)peare(l to appreciably diiiiiiiisli, and in a few days they were as ])lentiful as 

 ever. The ai)plication of the flame to all pai'ts is a very slow process, and is attended 

 with some danger. It cannot be directed into the crevices so as to desti'oy the eggs or 

 the mites which are in liiding. My experience convinces me that it is impracticable to 

 exterminate mites b}' means of the flame. The only way in which fire could be made 

 effective would lie to buin the entire building. 



I next resorted to the use of kerosene emulsion, and found it very eflective. The 

 emulsion is made as follows : — 



Take one half-jiound of hard soap, shave it into a gallon of soft water ; put it on the 

 fire and bring it to a boil, liy this time the soap will have dissolved. Then remove the 

 soap solution from the fire, and stir into it at once, while hot, 2 gallons of kerosene. 

 This makes a thick creamy emulsion, wliich is made ready for use by diluting with 10 

 volumes of soft water and stirring well. It can be utilised as a spray, dip, or wash. 



It is necessary to use soft water, for iiard water decomposes the soap and destroys its 

 emulsifying power. In my exjjeriments I used white laundry soap, but any good hard 

 soap will do. 



