8 A carology 



Debris is wrapped in cheesecloth and placed in the funnel. The 

 funnel is then tapped lightly to bring down any loose material before 

 the collecting jar is in place. Once the jar is in place turn on the light 

 and wait for the desiccation of the debris to force the mites to the 

 bottom of the funnel. At times as many as three days will elapse before 

 the debris in the funnel becomes completely desiccated. In this case 

 specimens will continue to drop into the collecting jar for three days. 

 When extensive collections are made a battery of Berlese funnels is 

 required. Many species of mites and other arthropods will be found in 

 the collecting jars. It is necessary to sort the specimens under a dis- 

 secting microscope. 



In order to collect parasitic mites it is first necessary to collect their 

 hosts. Almost all animals larger than mites are parasitized by them. 

 Not only terrestrial but aquatic animals serve as hosts. While most 

 parasitic mites are ectoparasites, some are endoparasites, and still 

 others are social parasites. It is not possible to discuss at length pro- 

 cedures for collecting all types of hosts. For this information the 

 "Collectors' Manual" published by the Smithsonian Institution is rec- 

 ommended. When collecting parasitic mites it must be remembered that 

 proper identification of the host species is as important as identification 

 of the mite. In order to identify the host properly it must be preserved so 

 that it can be submitted to a speciahst for study. In collecting hosts of 

 parasitic mites, large numbers of hosts should be obtained if a satisfac- 

 tory survey is to be achieved. Fortunately mites do not leave their 

 hosts upon their deaths as rapidly as do such insects as some fleas. 

 For this reason snap traps are satisfactory for capturing mammals 

 and other small, terrestrial vertebrates which serve as hosts for mites. 

 The only satisfactory method of collecting birds is shooting. A dou- 

 ble-barreled shotgun is to be preferred for this purpose so that both 

 light and heavy shot will be available instantaneously. Hosts must be 

 placed in mite-proof bags as soon as collected, so that parasites cannot 

 crawl from one host to another. 



Examination of hosts in the laboratory is greatly facilitated by the 

 use of a dissecting microscope. In examining a host the external sur- 

 face should be thoroughly studied first. In the case of mammals and 

 birds the fur and feathers make this difficult. With a little experience, 

 however, it will be found that the skin can be exposed by careful ma- 

 nipulation of the fur or feathers. In examining insects the wings, and 

 the elytra in the case of beetles, must be unfolded. The areas of the body 

 covered by the wings are favored by many ectoparasitic mites. Before 



