368 



Acarology 



tissue of turkeys. It destroys the fibers. The mite may be detected by 

 the occurrence of calcareous cysts in the subcutaneous tissues, but the 

 mites are to be found aUve in the tissues and not in the cysts which 

 form around the dead mites. Deaths of birds have been reported due 

 to heavy infestations. This species has also been reported from do- 

 mestic fowl in this country. 



References: 



Hirst, S. 1922. Mites injurious to domestic animals. Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) 



Eco. Ser., No. 13. 

 Taylor, T. 1884. Microscopic observations. Internal parasites in domestic 



fowls. U.S. Dept. Agr., Dept. Rpt. 34:1-5. 



' Heteropsoridae Oudemans, 1908 



Figure 298 



Diagnosis: These mites are very 

 small (about 0.22 mm. in length). 

 The body is very plump and al- 

 most circular in shape. No vertical 

 setae are present. The apodemes 

 of all coxae end free. All legs are 

 very thick, of equal length, and are 

 arranged radially. All tarsi have 

 monstrous, broadly leaf-shaped 

 caruncles; tarsi in and iv have ven- 

 tral, clawlike spines pointing pos- 

 teriorly. 



Figure 298 Heteropsorus pteroptopus 

 Trouessart and Neumann. Dorsum of 

 female. (After Vitzthum 1929) 



Genus: 



Heteropsorus Trouessart and Neumann, 1887 



Type. Heteropsorus pteroptopus Trouessart and Neumann, 1887 



Discussion: The single species is to be found on the skins of birds 

 and has been collected on Acrocephalus anmdinaceus, Erithacus cy- 

 anecula, Emberiza cirlus and E. schoeniclus in Italy and France. It 

 apparently has not been found since its original discovery. 



