374 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.xxvii. 



Genus SARCOPSYLLA Westwood. 



1815. Elnjnchoprion Oken, Naturgesch. f. alle Stilnde, III, p. 402. 



1829. Dermatophilus Guerin, Iconograph. d. regne animal. Insects, {i. 12. 



1836-40. Sarcopsylla Westwood, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., Ill, p. 199. 



1862. Sarcojjsylla Kolenati, Horse Soc. Ent. Koss., II, p. 28. 



1880. Sarcopmjlla Taschenberg, Die Flohe, p. 44. 



1895. >S'aroo;wy?Za Baker, Canad. Ent., XXVII, p. 20. 



SARCOPSYLLA PENETRANS Linnaeus. 



There seems to be little doubt that as this name has l)een used, it is a 

 composite species — an aggregate of several distinct forms. All forms 

 having females with the peculiar habits of the original peoietrans^ have 

 been previoush^ referred to this species without question and usually 

 without study. For the proper study of a species in this genus the 

 student should have especiall}" the male and the free female. The 

 encysted female is of comparatively little value, and this is especially 

 true of the material usuall}' preserved in collections in which head, 

 legs, and thorax are very likely to be torn away in consequence of lack 

 of care in the removal from the cyst. It is probable that the common 

 form of the American tropics which attacks the domestic animals and 

 man is to be regarded as the true jM?ietrans. 



But a variety of wild animals which never associate with the domes- 

 tic, possess similar forms, and the males and free females of these should 

 bo carefully collected and studied. Westwood notes that Pohl and 

 Kollar consider the Bicho de Cachorro or dog chigoe distinct from the 

 Bicho de pic or S. penetrans. 



Variously known as Jigger,^' Chique, Chigoe, Tique, Bicho, Pico, 

 Pique, Sico, Tschike, Nigua, Tunga, Tu Ton, Tungay or Aagrani (see 

 Taschenberg), S. penetrans (sens, lat.) is a troublesome pest in some 

 parts of Mexico, West Indies, and Central and South America, as well 

 as in some tropical regions elsewhere. There is no authentic record 

 of its occurrence within the borders of the United States, though it 

 may be expected in Florida and southern Texas. In attacking man it 

 seems to generally affect the feet, getting under the toe nails and pro- 

 ducing painful sores which become serious by neglect. A sharp knife 

 point and an antisepti(*. wash furnish the required treatment. 



Genus XESTOPSYLLA, new genus. 

 Type, Sarcopsylla galUnacen "Westwood. 



This form seems so out of place in Sarcops3dla that it is here sepa- 

 rated as a distinct genus. It differs from ^6'. penetrans very widely in 

 structure. 



" This name is commonly applied in the United States to our very troublesome 

 red mite. 



