3H 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. ^' 



Septembek 30, 1911. 



INSECT NOTES. 



INFORMATION CONCERNING TICKS. 



In the Yearbook of the United States Department 

 of Agriculture for 1910, an article appears which is 

 entitled Some of the More Important Ticks of the 

 United States, by W. D. Hunter and F. C. Bishopp. 



The cattle tick of the United States, or the North 

 American fever tick as it is commonly called, is Mar- 

 (jaropus (Boophilus) annidatus. Say, which is closely 

 related to the common cattle tick of the West Indies, 

 Margarop)U8 {Boophilus) australis; indeed, the latter 

 is classed by some authors as merely a variety of the 

 former. On account of this relationship, the following 

 note, which is copied from the article mentioned above, 

 is given: — 



The well-known transmittor of splenetic or Texas fever 

 of cattle, Margaropus ammlafits, Say, in importance far 

 exceeds any of the other ticks found in this country. It has 

 received attention in various departmental publications, and 

 will consequently be given but brief notice in this paper. It 

 is found throughout the Southern States. The original 

 northern limit of its range in the eastern part of the country 

 corresponded rather closely to Mason and Dixon's line. The 

 work of eradication which has been undertaken recently has 

 reduced the infested area considerably. Closely allied forms 

 occur in other parts of the world, where they transmit diseases 

 of cattle which are very similar to, if not identical with, the 

 splenetic fever which occurs in this country. 



This tick causes a direct loss of at least $40,000,000 

 a year in the United States; indirectly the damage is much 

 greater. Although primarily a factor connected with cattle 

 raising, the importance of this species extends far beyond 

 that industry. It practically inhibits the proper utilization 

 of live stock and thus prevents a rational system of agricul- 

 ture. In this manner the whole structure of the South is 

 affected and its development held back. A better system of 

 agriculture and rapid development are sure to follow the 

 eradication of the tick. 



There are two peculiar features of the life-history of this 

 tick. It is practically restricted to cattle as a host, and it 

 does not fall to the ground for the purpose of moulting. 

 These two peculiarities render the control of the fever tick 

 a comparatively simple matter. Its failure to exist on other 

 hosts renders it practical to free areas of its infestation in 

 a comparatively short time by the simple device of keeping 

 - the cattle out. Likewisi.e the dipping or greasing of cattle is 

 a certain and economical method. Both of these means are 

 being practised by the Bureau of Animal Industry of the 

 Department of Agriculture, which has undertaken extensive 

 work which will ultimately relieve the South of a most 

 important obstacle to development. 



The cattle ticks of the West Indies do not seem 

 to be very well known, and it would be of advantage if 

 readers of the Agricultural Nevn would collect and 

 forward to this Department specimens of any tieks they 

 may come across on cattle, sheep, goats, dogs, fowls, or 

 any other domestic or wild .animals, in order that 

 identifications might be obtained. Ticks may be 

 enclosed alive in small card boxes, or preserved in 

 dilute (70 per cent.) spirit, and forwarded through the 

 Agricultural Officers in each island. The ticks from 

 each host should be enclosed separately. 



Mr. W. A. Hooker, of the Bureau of Entomology 

 of the United States Department of Agriculture, has 

 published in the Journal of Economic Entomolngy 

 (Vol.11, p. 403) a paper entitled The Geographical 

 Distribution of American Ticks, from which the follow- 

 ing list of the West Indian species is largely taken, 

 a few records df the distribution being added from the 

 material of this Department. 



The cattle tick {Margaropus australis) occurs in 

 St. Kitts, Antigua, Guadeloupe, Dominica, Barbados 

 and Trinidad. 



The gold tick, or St. Kitts tick {Amhlyomma 

 variegatum), is recorded from St. Kitts, Antigua and 

 Guadeloupe. 



The fowl tick {Argas miniatus) is known to 

 occur in Antigua, Martinique, Barbados and Trinidad. 



The brown dog tick {RJii^yiceplbolus sanguineus) 

 is recorded from Antigua and Dominica, and in Barba- 

 dos a tick identified as Boojyhilus sp. has been found on 

 a dog. Another tick. Amhlyomma dissimile, has a gen- 

 eral distribution in the West Indies, being known in 

 Antigua, Barbados and Trinidad. 



In addition to the species mentioned above, Hooker's 

 list includes two species, Amhlyomma hirtum and 

 Hyalomma acgyptium from Guadeloupe, and three 

 from Trinidad, Dermacentornitens, Hyalomma longi- 

 rostre, and Rhipicephalus sp. 



It will be seen that no records are given for the 

 ocenrrence of ticks in St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Grenada, 

 Montserrat, Nevis and the Virgin Islands. It is not 

 likely that this' list represents the distribution of ticks 

 even in those islands from which species are recorded; 

 a little collecting will probabl}- demonstrate the 

 occurrence of most of these species in other islands 

 than those reported; and if planters and others would 

 forward specimens w-ith notes on the host on which 

 they are found, a much more complete and useful list 

 might be prepared. 



A NEW SUGAR-CANE PEST IN 

 MAURITIUS. 



The Bulletin Agricole of Mauritius for July last contains 

 a brief note on the occurrence of an insect pest attacking the 

 roots of sugarcane plants in Mauritius. The in.sect is a Iieetle, 

 the larval stage of which occurs in the ground, where, by 

 feeding on the roots, the larvae iuHict very serious injury on 

 the growing canes. It has not been identified, but it is be- 

 lieved to be a recently introduced form, and, as the first attack 

 was observed near the Pamplcmousses Gardens, it iti inferred 

 that the introduction may have occurred in connexion with 

 imported plants. Collecting the larvae was tried at lii-t as 

 a remedial measure, but as this did not appear to be s.itis- 

 factory more drastic means of control were employed. The 

 canes were dug, and by the use of kerosene (petrole) they and 

 the soil were thor6ughly burned. This seems a very severe 

 practice, but if it has the effect of completely destroying 

 a serious pest before it becomes widely distributed, it will be 

 well justified. 



It is suggested by the editor of the BuUftin Agi-irole 

 that the occurrence of this pe.st is another argument in favour 

 of legislation to prevent, as far as possible, the importation 

 of insects which are pests to agriculture. 



