n^VRVEST MITE. 



121 



red pimple. As with our common ticks, tlie irritation lasts only 

 while the animal is securing itself, and its presence would after- 

 wards scarcely be noticed but for tiie pimple Avhich results." 



The second species (Fig. 145 b, Leptus? irritaus) is also only 

 known in the Leptus stage. It is evidently the larva of a dis- 

 tinct genus from the other form, having enormous maxill« and 

 a broad bod.y; it is also brick red. Mr. Kiley says that "this is 

 the most troublesome and, perhaps, best known of the two, 

 causing intense irritation and swelling on all parts of the body, 

 but more especially on the legs and around the ankles. Woe 

 betide the person who, after bathing in the Mississippi any- 

 where in this latitude, is lured to some green dressing-spot of 

 Aveeds or grass ! He may, for the time, consider himself fortu- 

 a b 



145 a. American Hai-vest Mite; h. Irritating Harvest Mite; the dots nnder- 

 neatli iudicating the'natural size. 



nate in getting rid of mud and dirt, but he will afterwards find to 

 his sori'ow that he exchanged them for something f;ir more tena- 

 cious in these microscopic Harvest-mites. If he has obtained 

 a good supply of them, he will in a few hours begin to sufler 

 from severe itching, and for the next two or three days will be 

 likely to scratch until his limbs are sore. 



"With the strong mandibles and the elbowed raaxillfe which 

 act like arms, this mite is able to bury itself completely in the 

 flesh, thereby causing a red swelling with a pale pustulous cen- 

 tre containing watery matter. If, in scratching, 'he is fortunate 

 enough to remove the mite before it enters, the part soon heals. 

 But otherwise the irritation lasts for two, three or four days, 

 the pustulous centre reappearing as often as it is broken. . 

 11 



